PropertyShield Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Follow
External Listing Monitoring & Fraud Protection
🔍 What is Property Shield?
Property Shield is a monitoring solution that detects the unauthorized or fraudulent use of MLS listing data outside of the MLS environment.
It continuously scans public websites—including rental platforms, social media, and third-party listing sites—to identify:
- Duplicate or cloned listings
- Rental scams using for-sale listings
- Agent or broker impersonation
- Unauthorized use of listing photos
- Listings appearing on unauthorized platforms
Purpose
To protect listing agents, brokerages, and consumers by identifying and addressing fraudulent activity quickly.
⚖️ How Does Property Shield Support Compliance?
Property Shield strengthens compliance efforts by:
- Monitoring how listings appear outside the MLS
- Identifying misuse or misrepresentation of listing data
- Alerting listing agents and/or MLS staff when issues are detected
- Enabling timely review and removal of fraudulent listings
Important:
Property Shield focuses on external fraud detection. Internal MLS rule enforcement remains part of standard Data Integrity processes.
⚙️ How Listing Monitoring Works
Property Shield uses a combination of advanced detection methods:
- Address matching
- Image recognition
- Listing data comparison
- Pattern detection across websites
These methods identify listings that appear externally with:
- Different pricing
- Different contact information
- Different status (e.g., rental vs. for sale)
- Unauthorized use of media
Monitoring runs continuously across a wide range of publicly accessible platforms.
Coverage includes all active listings in the MLS, including Coming Soon listings.
🚨 What Types of Issues Are Detected?
High-Confidence Alerts (Automated)
- Listing duplication
- Rental scams
- Agent or broker impersonation
- Unauthorized use of listing media
- Syndication mismatches (status discrepancies)
Review-Based Alerts (Require Validation)
- Modified listing details
- Suspicious platform activity
- Partial data matches
📩 Understanding Alerts
An alert means Property Shield has identified a potential match or inconsistency between your MLS listing and an external posting.
Important:
An alert does not automatically mean fraud has occurred.
It simply indicates that the listing should be reviewed to determine whether the activity is:
- Authorized
- Expected
- Fraudulent
✅ What To Do When You Receive an Alert
Follow these steps:
1. Review the Alert
- Confirm the property address
- Review the external link or screenshot
- Compare it to your MLS listing
2. Confirm Accuracy
Determine whether:
- The listing is yours
- The external posting is authorized
- The details (price, status, contact info) match
3. Take Action
- If fraudulent: Confirm and proceed with takedown
- If legitimate: No action is required
4. Respond Promptly
Timely responses help ensure faster removal and reduce potential consumer harm.
🚫 What Happens After Fraud is Confirmed?
Once an alert is confirmed as fraud:
- A takedown request is initiated
- Property Shield works directly with platform APIs and reporting channels (including social media platforms like Facebook)
- The listing is removed from the external platform
- The case is documented for tracking and reporting
Property Shield continues to monitor flagged listings to ensure they do not reappear.
⏱️ What If I Don’t Respond?
If no action is taken:
- The alert may be escalated to the MLS Data Administration team
- The MLS may review and take action as needed
Prompt responses help minimize risk and speed up resolution.
⚠️ Will I Be Penalized?
No.
Property Shield alerts are not violations.
They are protective notifications designed to identify potential fraud.
However, if an alert uncovers a separate MLS rule violation, it may be addressed through standard compliance processes.
🔐 Data Privacy & Security
Property Shield is designed with privacy in mind:
- Uses only publicly available data
- Does not access private accounts or communications
- Does not expose sensitive subscriber information
Monitoring is limited to public-facing listing data and imagery only.
🌐 Scope of Monitoring
Property Shield monitors external platforms only, including:
- Rental websites
- Social media platforms
- Third-party listing sites
It does not monitor activity inside the MLS.
🔎 Normal vs. Suspicious Activity
Normal Activity
- Listings on authorized syndication sites
- Minor delays in updates across platforms
- Consistent listing information
Potentially Suspicious Activity
- Listing appears as a rental when it is for sale
- Contact information differs from MLS
- Price is significantly lower
- Photos appear on unrelated listings
- Listings appear on unknown or high-risk websites
⏱️ Resolution Timelines
Typical response times:
- Alerts reviewed within 1 business day
- Confirmed fraud acted on same day when possible
- Takedown initiated immediately (timing varies by platform)
🔑 Access & Account
How do I access Property Shield?
Access Property Shield anytime through your Doorify MLS dashboard under Other Services.
You do not need to use the email alert link.
Do I need a separate login?
No. Property Shield uses Single Sign-On (SSO) through Doorify MLS.
No additional username or password is required.
Do I need to enroll?
No. Property Shield is automatically enabled for all active listings in Doorify MLS.
📞 Need Help?
For questions or support, contact:
Data Administration Team
⭐ Why Property Shield Matters
Property Shield helps:
- Protect consumers from scams
- Protect agents from impersonation
- Maintain trust in MLS data
- Reduce reputational risk for brokerages
- Strengthen overall data integrity