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The Scammers Strike Again!

By Leigh Brown

Real Estate Agent with Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive

April 02, 2007 05:42 AM

I'm highly entertained by the scammers and the routes that they will travel to separate me from my money....(they seem to be lacking the knowledge that it takes a strong presentation and a crowbar to accomplish THAT!).

Got this email today, generated by one of my listing advertisements on http://www.craigslist.org/.

GREETINGS ,

MY NAME IS MR JOHN THOMAS .

I LIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ( UK ).

I SAW YOU YOUR ADVERT ONLINE CONCERNING YOUR HOME ( REAL ESTATE ) FOR SALE

I WOULD LOVE TO BUY YOUR HOME FOR MY ONLY SON ( CHILD ) AND HIS WIFE .

SO PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING DETAILS CONCERNING THE HOUSE :

(1) YOUR LAST PRICE OFFER FOR THE HOUSE .

(2) SEND ME SOME RECENT PICTURES OF THE HOUSE .

(3) I WILL LIKE TO KNOW , IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF THIS HOUSE .

(4) I WILL LIKE TO KNOW THE LOCATION AND ADDRESS OF THIS HOUSE .

PLEASE REPLY ME ONLY IF YOUR HOME ( REAL ESTATE ) IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE

I AWAIT YOUR SOONEST REPLY IMMEDIATELY TO :

MR JOHN THOMAS

I think my favorite part is that this scammer was even too lazy to pick which endeavor he was trying (note the parentheses)! Will keep you posted, of course I'm going to email back. =)

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Michael Hutchins - Consumer Advocate, Chicago

Michael Hutchins Ent. - Chicago, IL

Leigh I can't tell you how many of these scam emails I get every day. At least 15-20. It's the price we pay though for putting our emails online unfortunately.

Apr 02, 2007 05:47 AM

Tricia Jumonville

Bradfield Properties - Georgetown, TX

Texas REALTOR , Agent With Horse Sense

Hey, I got that exact one this weekend! I wrote back and asked him which property because it's impossible to answer his questions without knowing which one it is. And signed it with my signature line clearly indicating I'm an agent. We'll see if I hear anything back (I'm betting I won't).

Apr 02, 2007 06:02 AM

Suzanne Marriott

Keller Williams Arizona Realty - Anthem, AZ

Associate Broker, CLHMS, e-PRO

Sounds like the buyer has a large family and wants to buy many houses - perhaps a bulk deal?! :-)

Apr 02, 2007 06:17 AM

Leigh Brown

Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC

CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC

Michael-It's definitely a small price to pay for the real leads, isn't it?

Hey Tricia-you stay away from my prospect!! ;)

Ravi-I'm looking forward to my response, since I got such a kick out of Randy Prothero's post about his exchange with them;

Suzanne-you're right! I'm not looking at it from the right angle! =)

Apr 02, 2007 06:21 AM

Keith Zimmer

RE/MAX Results - Saint Louis, MO

I got a new one with an old theme. It's the one that their money is in a bank and they need me as a us citizen to allow them to transfer money into my account and then I get to keep a % of it. This one is from the wife of an Iraqi business man that has been made to flee because of the US military. It amusses me that all have 22 million dollars. I sent them a false name bank and account number. Hope the don't get mad at me for the inconvinance

Apr 02, 2007 06:35 AM

Gosh, Keith, you should be ashamed of yourself!

Apr 02, 2007 06:42 AM

Randy Powell

The Powell Team - Kannapolis, NC

Broker - Concord & Kannapolis NC

See if I share any of my money with you non-believers. I am waiting for my windfall to post to my checking account as I type. $7 million in US cash! I'll spare you all the details, but, to add legitimacy to my words, I will tell you that the brother of a deposed leader of Nigeria is putting his trust and faith in me!

Apr 02, 2007 09:01 AM

Cory & Tracy Frantzick

RE/MAX Associates Plus - North Branch, MN

The scary one I had, was the JERK actually took the time to fill in specific MLS numbers, I had a wierd feeling on it, but, we played along, and got a cashiers check the day before closing, and it was actually good. We did further research and found out the bank account was good, but, the company who's check was counterfited knew nothing about it. Stay away from Reverand John Freeman!!

Apr 02, 2007 09:13 AM

Virginia Halter

RE/MAX Signature Properties - Harrisburg, NC

ABR, CDPE, CRS, GREEN, SFR, SRES

I would write a reply much like this:

DEAREST JT,

I WOULD VERY TO LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE AFOREMENTIONED HOUSE (REAL ESTATE). PLEASE REPLY WITH A DATE AND TIME (MEETING DETAILS) WHERE WE CAN MEET. PLEASE HAVE ON YOUR PERSON A CERTIFIED (MONEY ORDER) CHECK FOR THE ENTIRE ASKING AMOUNT OF THE HOUSE (REAL ESTATE) AND A PICTURE OF YOUR ONLY SON (CHILD) AND HIS WIFE. I LOVE FAMILY PHOTOS (WARM AND FUZZIES).

THANK YOU VERY MUCH D TRUMP.

Randy, you are a hoot!!

Apr 02, 2007 10:57 AM

Kay Van Kampen

RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO

Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

Leigh, They are everywhere. I just had a credit card ID stolen. Still haven't figured out where they got all the information, but the card company caught it and shut it down. We have to be on the alert at all times.

Apr 02, 2007 02:22 PM

Jeff Belonger

Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ

The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Leigh... a few people have written about this lately. I just got another one yesterday. What's funny is that I have received a few on myspace also. I wrote back to one lady and told her that I just received 3 of these today. She wrote back telling me it's ashame, because she really does need help... lol She had me for ...3 seconds... I am nice and would give the shirt off my back, but I need to see you face to face.

jeff belonger

Apr 02, 2007 02:51 PM

Randy L. Prothero

eXp Realty - Hollister, MO

Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

I have gone over the top with the African scam. I have been posting the updates from them as they continue to try to part me from my money. I give them credit, they are persistent.

Apr 02, 2007 08:21 PM

What's that saying about a sucker born every minute?

Apr 03, 2007 03:26 AM

Patrick Brady

The Danberry Co., Realtors - Sylvania, OH

I guess the amazing part is that with all the publicity these type of things have, that they are still trying. I guess they still have people that fall for this line. I would seem like this would be a difficult way to make a living.

Apr 03, 2007 03:44 AM

waey wyqw

wyq34y - Dell, MT

I used to get so much spam from these scammers. Now my spam filters act as my gatekeeper.

Sep 26, 2007 12:39 PM

Esko Kiuru

Bethesda, MD

Leigh,

Good warning to keep us all on our toes. Scammers are everywhere, even here at AR. Every so often there is an email from some character from wherever soliciting dubious business. Some of them are pretty slick and can trick you, so be aware.

Sep 26, 2007 04:17 PM

The Scammers Strike Again!

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