SNEAKY SNEAKY SNEAKY !!!
Yet another way people try to cheat in real estate transactions. Always get a copy of Driver's License to verify identity. - Maria in Kansas City
It's always astounding the ways that some folks will try to beat the system.
This last week I was talking with an Attorney who had just recently had a scam encounter that he had never seen in 30 years in Real Estate.
Apparently 2 sellers arrived for their closing and signed all their documents, and were just about to be handed their $325,000 closing check, when the attorney asked for their drivers licenses for the file.
The husband took his out from his wallet but the wife said she didnt have hers with her.
The hubby said "Cant you just use mine ?"
Getting a weird feeling, the Attorney asked if the wife had any identification at all on her - especially as she had her pocketbook with her !
At this point the 2 seemed to get a little fidgety !
Continuing with his uneasiness, the attorney said "I'm really sorry but I cant finalize this closing without getting copies of your official ID for the file".
With that, the wife said "OK no problem, I might have it in the car..."
... and strangely, they BOTH went off to the car to get the ID.
AND NEVER CAME BACK !!!!!!!
It turns out that the husband was indeed who he said he was, and was an owner of the house. BUT, his 'wife' at the closing, was not actually his 'wife' .... yet !
... She was in fact, HIS GIRLFRIEND !!!!!
Their little scam was that she would sign as the wife, they would take their check and quietly deposit it asap having sold the house.
I say quietly because it was revealed that the REAL wife was separated from the husband, but not yet divorced.
... AND HAD NO IDEA THAT THE HOUSE WAS BEING SOLD !!!!!
They wanted to deposit that Fat Check - and cash it out as soon as it cleared and disappear with over $300k without the real wife knowing anything about it !
... and they would have got away with it too if it wasnt for that meddlin' attorney !!!!!!
So kudos to efficient attorneys, who do their jobs well and dont cut corners, and in the process, sometimes help to avoid some tricky scams like this one !!!!
Happy Weekend All !!!
