Agents Warned After Open House Incidents
A man posing as a buyer at Tampa-area open houses is accused of touching agents' feet, prompting a safety alert and police warning to stay vigilant.
TAMPA, Fla. — Some Tampa Bay real estate agents have had a disturbing experience. They said a man is showing up at open houses, pretending to be a buyer, then finding an excuse to touch or caress their feet.
Use Forewarn for Instant Background Checks
Learn how to activate and use Forewarn, a free safety tool from Florida Realtors®. Register for an upcoming training webinar being held May 6 and May 15. Other dates are available as well.
Angela Julian said she had no idea what started as a typical open house would end with her feeling violated. Now, she and others are coming forward hoping it leads to action.
"There are multiple women Realtors that have been experiencing and have had these encounters with this same man. At least 12 of us that we know, spanning as far back as July of last year and as recent as April 12th," Julian said.
Julian said her experience at an open house last summer still unsettles her, and now she knows she's not alone.
"He looked around the house, asked questions, asked me to show him the backyard. So, I showed him the backyard. Then he proceeded to tell me that I had an ant on my foot, and I started hopping around trying to figure out where the ant was," Julian said.
Several victims claimed the man used excuses like bugs or ants to get close and touch their feet.
"I didn't see an ant, but he kept telling me that it went behind my shoe. And so he started to unbuckle my shoe and caress my foot," Julian said.
After sharing her experience online, Julian discovered she wasn't alone.
One woman commented on a post, saying, "This happened to me in February, at my friends open house when I had a listing."
The incidents have prompted a safety alert for agents across Tampa Bay.
"We just need to be prepared going into hosting open houses and maybe doing background checks on people," Julian said.
Clearwater police confirmed an incident matching the description. Investigators issued a warning to agents to stay vigilant and to report any suspicious activity.
© 2025 WFLA, Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved.