The original post: /r/amitheasshole by /u/Middle_Confidence40 on 2025-04-04 12:11:21.
My (30F) friend "Suzy" (29F) recently told me she's been representing herself as a licensed agent and realtor to people despite not having completed the licensing exam. She works with a licensed broker named Bob who handles the legal aspects of transactions, but she's still telling people she's a realtor without having the credentials.
When I saw a text where she admitted this, I told her that misrepresentation is illegal and that falsifying a license is a serious offense. I explained that this could potentially get both her and Bob in trouble, since "Realtor" is actually a protected term for members of the National Association of Realtors.
She got defensive and said "I don't care" and that "It's not really a lie" and "It's so minor." She claims she's just using the term to make their "brand sound more legit" and that she's "not proactively saying she's a realtor to people in town." But in an earlier message, she clearly said "Yes" when I asked if she's telling people she's a realtor. And she was sending a text to her friend reminding him that she is a realtor. She also has stated on their brokerage website that she “got her license in 2024.” I recently saw this and said you need to edit that out because you can’t tell people you’re a licensed agent, and she said she was planning to take it out.
She eventually messaged saying it seems like she “struck a nerve” and that she's not doing anything that "puts Bob or our business at risk" because she's "not handling deals or writing offers." She ended by saying "Lol i dont care" when I reminded her that misrepresentation and falsifying a license is illegal.
I feel like I was just looking out for her by warning about potential legal consequences, but she's acting like I'm being ridiculous and overreacting. It makes me feel sick to imagine my friend deceiving people like this, and to have complete disregard for the rules. To me, there is zero benefit to her lying.
AITA for calling her out on this? What should I do here?