Ever Dealt With A Con Man

I have met a few over the years and can usually figure them out very quickly.  The worst I ever dealt with was a “flipper” who convinced me to invest with him - he bought the houses and I would finance the repairs and we would split the profits.  Sad thing is he flipped the house and left me with approximately 40k in credit card debt I can’t possibly pay.  He is extremely smooth and I am finding more and more people he has scammed.  Being a single one income person I am literally sick over the entire mess as he has not put me in such a bad position I have no choice but to file bankruptcy and I am physically ill over it.  Cryin

Lots of people out there looking to live off others. Such a shame we cannot trust people more.

Yes - and we never did quite figure out the con. Two guys came to town and began making offers on fixers - anything with a low, low price. After they were accepted, they woud disappear, then come back with a story.

They did "close" on one property - a seller carry contract. They wrote a personal check for the down payment, so the closer held off on closing and distributing the funds for several days. She didn't learn that the check bounced until 2 or 3 days after she had closed out the file.

All we can think is that they were taking the accepted offers back to the Seattle area and getting money from investors - which of course they never spent on the houses.

Margaret, wow, my jaw is dropped thinking of what the other agent did. If it sounds too good to be true...I find most of the con's claim to have cash and then when proof of funds are requested they get angry I won't just run out and show them places. If my gut is telling me something is off I trust it, too risky not too!

Margaret, I am concerned when I see agents that are so hungry for a deal they drop their guard and do not take proper precautions. Thanks for sharing this valuable experience, I hope it will help us all to be on the alert.

We have scammers come into the market place whenever it crashes. I've been through 4 cycles and they always show up. Many are the 100% financing guys who try to take loans "subject to" have the Seller generate cash out of the deal by refinancing a 2nd on the property so they can credit back the Buyer for alledged carpet repair, etc. Scammers. We had someone put into our MLS a property which the agent was buying as a "short-sale". He was "flipping" a possible purchase of his short-sale in progress! Never happened. 

Hello Margaret and yes Vegas Bob has dealt with Con Men before and maybe someday I will share a story with you.

Your post has been featured to the group:

LATE NIGHT - EARLY MORNING AT ACTIVERAIN

Never experienced a real con man... unless you include car salesmen!

Apparently charm got that man everything!  Haven't had any serious charmer/con men just the random stuff we all see.  That's a valuable lesson for anyone though.  Never give out keys until a deed records!

Unfortunately, con men and women prey on their victim's desperation to secure something, usually of value and their inability to walk away from the deal. John Wiley, #43 ratifies this phenomenon, so, before paralysis, investigate and validate not only the prudence of the offer or transaction but the producer.  Wisdom comes from lessons learned from our journey of our life. 

OMG that is one bad agent to hand over the keys.  We get a lot of those types in Hawaii... they come and go... they get spat out pretty fast actually.