I received an interesting e-mail yesterday regarding a listing at Waialae Iki.  Check it out below.  Note - I deleted some of the contact info, just in case the scammers used the phone and e-mail address of an innocent person:

________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide

Attention:

The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation of $850.000.00 USD directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email
address a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.

We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we require some more information in order to complete this transfer. In order to resolve this problem,please
email via Western Union Solicitors Fund verification Department; E-mail (customercare111) As soon as this information is received,and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges $250USD, payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from The Western Union Transfering Bank.

Sincerely,
Rev.John Hillary. Direct Line +xxx-xx189407

________________________________________________________________

So let's see, someone wants to wire the full purchase price of the house, sight unseen, no questions asked?  They didn't even sign a purchase contract!  Oh, and I see they want me to send $250 so I can collect $850,000.  

Why would the International Monetary Fund get involved with a wire transfer?  They are busy doing research, lending money to countries in need and gathering statistics.  I can't imagine that the IMF would contact someone about a wire transfer that didn't go through.

In a television special on CNBC the other day, reporters visited Nigeria, where many of these scams originate.  Rumors are that one scammer made $40 million so far this year through transactions like this, promising money after they get your bank account number.  Don't do it!

Aloha, Mike

Hawaii realtor