Beware of New Email Scam! Although I don't Understand What the Purpose Is...

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast

 thought I was starting to pick up more hits from people interested in obtaining information related to the tax credit, home buying, etc, but apparently it's a new scam.  The only thing is...I don't know why they are doing it

Is it simply email harvesting so they can sell my address to a million other people that want to spam me or is it something even more sinister?

It seems the activity has reduced considerably as of 8-25-09. I don't see as many posts being indexed with Google so they've probably moved on to using new addresses or filled their site with enough content.

Just received a message (7/31/09) from a NEW account originating from a different IP Address:  teronspoons@gmail.com claiming to be "Lacey" with originating from IP address 69.89.18.16

Just received a message from another new address today (7/24/09), petrov.gazprom@gmail.com from "Tony":

From: "petrov.gazprom@gmail.com"
To: chandasellsindy
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 9:10:44 AM
Subject: How long it take for the 8000 first home buyers refund

How long it take for the 8000 first home buyers refund?
Before I go ahead, is there any pointers you might have?
Please help me.
Thank you for your help.
Gratefully, Tony

Just received a message from a new address today (7/21/09), iris.accountants@gmail.com from "Janet":

From:"iris.accountants@gmail.com"
To: chandasellsindy
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 2:41:33 AM
Subject: Would you consider giving me a couple pointers

I would like to find out about the would you consider giving me a couple pointers. There are so many factors to consider. Would you be kind enough as to give me some pointers as what to look for or avoid?
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Sincerely,
Janet

Last week I received an email from "Frank" regarding the tax credit.  I thought "Mike/Frank" found my blog about the tax credit and had additional questions about how the credit works.  I thought it was odd that he signed as "Frank", but the email address was "Mike"...  I searched the internet for this particular address, but didn't come up with much so I responded...

 

 

Here's "Frank's" message:

From:"mike.power200@gmail.com"
To:chandasellsindy
Sent: Friday, July 3, 2009 10:04:24 AM
Subject: How much of a tax rebate will i get for buying my first home

How much of a tax rebate will i get for buying my first home?  I was thinking that your advice would be very helpful.  I know you must be very busy so any pointers would be very much appreciated.
Please point me in the right direction.  Thank you in advance.
Thanks, Frank

This morning I go to check my mail and see I have an email from "Janet".  The wording of the message sounded very similar to the one I got from "Frank" last week so I thought I'd look this particular email address up.  This one yielded results.  Various people were saying this same email address was sending messages with inquiries related to whatever industry they were in...

Here's "Janet's" message:

From:"andri.manager@gmail.com"
To:chandasellsindy
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 10:31:13 PM
Subject:Do homebuyers pay sales tax

Hi,
Do homebuyers pay sales tax?  I don`t know if you are the right person to ask, but any advice/pointers you might have would be very much appreciated.
Would you consider giving me a couple pointers?
Thank you for your help.  Gratefully,
Janet

So here I thought I was being a good Samaritan when in reality I was being scammed.  ARGH!  I don't know what will happen as a result of responding to "Frank" but I wanted you all to be aware in case you've received similar inquiries!  DON'T RESPOND!!!

I'll keep adding the bogus messages to this post as I receive them....

From "Leanne":

From: andri.manager@gmail.com [mailto:andri.manager@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 11:38 PM
To: chandasellsindy
Subject: What is the average homebuyers credit score

What is the average homebuyers credit score?

What things should I be considering before going ahead? Please point me in the right direction. Thank you in advance. Thanks, Leanne

 

From "Larry":

From: andri.manager@gmail.com [mailto:andri.manager@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 9:40 AM
To: chandasellsindy
Subject: How much down payment do i need to buy a house for conventional loan

Hi,

How much down payment do i need to buy a house for conventional loan?

I don`t know if you are the right person to ask, but any advice/pointers you might have would be very much appreciated. A little advice would go a long way right now. I really appreciate your help. Thank you, Larry

 

From "Kim":

From: "petersons.production@gmail.com"
To: chandasellsindy
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 12:18:07 AM
Subject: How long to wait on first time home refund

Hi,
How long to wait on first time home refund?  I don`t know if you are the right person to ask, but any advice/pointers you might have would be very much appreciated.  Any info much appreciated.  Thank you very much.
Thanks, Kim

I guess I can deal in Canada now...From "Lacey":

From: "andri.manager@gmail.com"
To:chandasellsindy
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 2:05:23 PM
Subject: How much money needed to buy a house in canada

How much money needed to buy a house in canada? I was hoping maybe you could give me a few hints as to what I should be looking for and what to avoid.
Would you consider giving me a couple pointers?
I really appreciate your help.
yours truly,
Lacey

 

Comments (23)

Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Hi Chanda, there are more and more of those type of emails surfacing.  Sometimes you don't realize it's a spam scam until you get another similar one.  I inadvertently answered one recently only to receive a return email trying to direct me to some site.

Jul 08, 2009 01:04 AM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

I received an email from andri.manager last week about down payment amounts.  He signed it "Frank"

I have no idea what type of spam email this is, other than perhaps a way of verifying our email addresses to be added to another database?

Jul 08, 2009 01:15 AM
Goodbye Active Rain
Out of Real Estate

Write back asking for a phone number and see if you get a reply.  If not....delete.

Jul 08, 2009 02:13 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

I personally think it's safer to not respond than respond and ultimately find out they were trying to scrape your IP address from the header or harvest your email address...

Jul 08, 2009 02:18 AM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Chanda,

Thanks for the heads up.  I must say this is a new on me.

Jul 08, 2009 02:48 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

Geez how stupid am I?  I just realized I responded to yet another message like this.  This one was from Fred...I wonder what the purpose of this is...

From: petersons.production@gmail.com [mailto:petersons.production@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:23 PM
To: chandasellsindy

Subject: Can you get the 8000 credit with bad credit

Hello,

Can you get the 8000 credit with bad credit?
I am trying to figure out what is important. I was hoping you might be able to give me some insight. Any help appreciated.

Thank you so much.

Thanks, Fred

Jul 08, 2009 08:45 AM
Jeff Kessler
Austin Homes, Realtors www.OwnAustin.com - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Chanda,

I just got this email and I always google the email addresses and your link came up.

Thank you so much for posting this.  I almost responded, but I now know better.

Have a great week.

J.

Jul 09, 2009 10:13 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

Jeff, I'm happy to see this post was helpful to some.  I received another message today from another email address with similar wording.  It seems this is becoming a daily occurrence for me.  I still would like to know what the purpose of fooling people into answering bogus questions is...

Jul 09, 2009 10:35 AM
Dave Woodson
Dave Woodson - Chesterton, IN
Not the Average Agent

I jut got it as well, WTH is up with that, kind a makes me mad and want to go ot and punch someone

 

Jul 09, 2009 02:45 PM
Pam Jank
Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Your Coeur d'Alene & North Idaho Real Estate Pro

I just got the same type email.  I did do a blog regarding "Costs to Build"  so he question did seem legitimate. 

Glad I googled before I responded.  What made me suspicious was, the email adress was different from the name that signed the email.   Glad I did not respond.  Don't know what would have happen if I did. 

Here is what my email said: 

From: mike.power200@gmail.com

RE: How much does it cost to build 1000 sq ft

Hi,

How much does it cost to build 1000 sq ft?

I am trying to figure out what is important.  I was hoping you might be able to give me some insight.  Would you consider giving me a couple pointers?

Thank you in advance.  yours truly, Terry

Jul 10, 2009 06:19 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

They seem to alter the message based on the person's profession..  I received two more from the Andri Manager address...I'll post them up in the main part of my post...

Jul 13, 2009 08:47 AM
Betina Foreman
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

I swear there is a new scam created every minute. I am sorry this one snared you. Better luck next time!

Jul 13, 2009 11:18 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

Seems they would've disabled these gmail accounts by now...

Jul 16, 2009 01:25 PM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

You'd think they'd at least try to spell Realtor right...

Jul 17, 2009 03:41 AM
Stephen Kappre
KW Hometown - Mantua, NJ
Helping You Home

Chanda - I just got a similar e-mail from this e-mail, from Janet ... I Googled the email AND GOT YOUR BLOG AS #1 - so I know two things now ... AR is still awesome and you have helped me understand that this guy is a phony. I appreciate you posting this. I had just responded with ... "How am I talking to?"

Jul 17, 2009 08:41 AM
Stephen Kappre
KW Hometown - Mantua, NJ
Helping You Home

I flagged this since other people might want to know - I also found the same e-mail address on many other websites ... ???

Jul 17, 2009 08:45 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

It's just getting annoying now.  I'm almost tempted to block any email from gmail users, but then I might lose an email that I really needed to receive...

Jul 24, 2009 01:16 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

You're absolutely right, I went back through the ones I had saved and found that the IP was 74.221.221.68 just as John said.  I'll send a report now along with the header info...

Jul 30, 2009 11:45 AM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

Leela, glad to help. 

I'd be interested to know if those of you that responded to the messages have seen an increase in the number of Adult related spam...  I noticed I'm receiving a ton of spam pointing to adult related websites now.  Wondering if this idiot, er person sold my email address to them...

 

Jul 30, 2009 12:05 PM
Chanda Barrick
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral

Now Lanacanesheets is a new one.  Haven't gotten that one yet.  I'm sure I will eventually though...

Aug 02, 2009 10:53 AM