Anyone Can Be the Victim of Internet Scams
Today we’re addressing something very important — and very serious. Our society is now a population consumed by our devices. Computers, tablets, and smartphones are with us everywhere. The internet, email, and social media have become so ingrained in everyday life that we often forget how dangerous these digital spaces can be. Anyone who goes online can become a target of a scam at any time.
At Ernest Homes, we take great pride in our sterling reputation. We work hard at ALL times to provide high-quality homes, superb customer service, and an honest, transparent relationship with every person we interact with — whether you’re a homebuyer, vendor, business partner, or someone simply reaching out for information. We take this responsibility seriously.
Unfortunately, it came to our attention that our company’s name and logo have been misused by an individual lacking integrity. A scam artist has assumed the identity of a reputable real estate professional who works at a legitimate mortgage company in California — and has created fraudulent marketing materials using her name, contact information, and our logo. This was done without our permission.
This tech scammer sends marketing emails to individuals who may be interested in obtaining real estate loans. Their intention is to deceive victims into structuring a bogus loan that is in no way associated with Ernest Homes. We are not lenders. We do not offer lending services or investment capital programs of any kind.
Below is an excerpt from an actual email sent to a potential victim who quickly recognized something was wrong and reported it:
“With funding from Earnest Home LLC, you can make improvements and grow your business quickly. EXPANSION CAPITAL GROUP: FAST, FLEXIBLE FUNDING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS…”
The email continues with claims of easy real estate investment loans, high funding limits, minimal paperwork, and access to a “dedicated business banker.” The sender then signs off using the stolen identity:
Kristina Lynn Villegas
Earnest Home LLC.
There are several red flags in this message that suggest fraud:
- Spelling and grammatical errors. Scam emails are often generated by individuals outside the U.S. using English as a second language.
- Incorrect capitalization. Phrases such as “real estate investment” and “real estate investment capital” are improperly capitalized throughout.
- Incorrect company name. The scammer misspells our company name, although they use our correct logo in the marketing package.
- Awkward phrasing. Unnatural or overly formal wording often signals a scam attempt.
If you ever receive an offer that seems questionable, always conduct your own research before responding. Search for the company online and make sure their official website offers the same services being promoted in the email. In this case, anyone visiting the Ernest Homes website would quickly see that we do not offer loans, funding programs, or financial services of any kind — we focus exclusively on building superior homes in the Coastal Empire.
The real Kristina Villegas and the team at Ernest Homes have contacted the proper authorities and are actively pursuing legal action. If you ever receive a suspicious email, advertisement, or message claiming to be from us, please report it immediately.
To learn more about identifying or reporting scams, you may visit these official resources:
- Federal Trade Commission Fraud Reporting
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- FTC Consumer Scam Alerts
Our mission is to protect the people we serve — in every way, at all times. We want you to know we are watching out for you, and to remind you that not everyone online has good intentions. Please stay alert, stay cautious, and stay safe.
