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E-mail scams

By Larry DeCoursey

Real Estate Agent with DeCoursey Real Estate Group

October 14, 2007 04:05 AM

I woke up this morning to an e-mail in my inbox that seems a little weird and I am sure that it is. I was just wondering if anyone else had ever received one.

The e-mail is from a high official in the Nigerian government and he states that he is relcating to the USA for work and needs assistance in purchasing and relocating his family. He is requesting my assistance as a REALTOR and wants to know how to proceed. He requests that I contact him via e-mail.

I know that this is a scam, I just wonder what angle they are shooting for. REALTORS have enough to worry about without something like this. I am sure those that are desperate for business might even explore something like this. Have you received something similar?

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Michael Mapes-Suntrust Mortgage

Sun Trust Mortgage - Newport News, VA

I think the country of origin should be your first clue

Oct 14, 2007 04:08 AM

Amy Dawson, Vancouver, WA Realtor

Vancouver, WA

YES, I received one of those emails a few months ago. I hope nobody really falls for it! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Oct 14, 2007 04:10 AM

Victor DaGraca

Critical Home Inspections - Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach Home Inspections

He's going to send you a check for $xxxx,xx over the amount you require for an earnest money deposit. Then, he's going to ask you to send him a check for the difference in his mistake.

Then..... his check bounces..... yours doesn't.

Oct 14, 2007 04:11 AM

Find a Notary Public needAnotary

QEC Internet Services - Long Beach, CA

Can you say junk mail! I'm surprised that people fall for these scams. Why would someone want to just give you millions of dollars for minimal efforts? Especially someone you don’t even know. Do you think your luck is that good that a stranger in a foreign country will seek you out to endow you with wealth?

Hey, I got some property beneath the earth that I want to sell you for a dime on a dollar, but I need a small deposit first. I also need the deposit before you claim your millions from overseas. Do we have a deal?

Oct 14, 2007 04:15 AM

Michael La Fay

Meadow Lakes Supply Co. - Wasilla, AK

Oh yeah... I get these all of the time from some head of an offshore bank which has found an account worth $26,000,000 and the person who owned it is deceased and had no one to leave the money too LOL OR some foreign investor in Zimbabwe would like to use your services to invest XXXXX of dollars over the next year...

One can only hope they don't fall for the scam :-)

Oct 14, 2007 04:16 AM

Anonymous

Connor MacIVOR

I get a few every once in a while where I have some far off relative that need my help in depositing several million dollars into a United States Bank Account.

I hope, for our sake, we at least bounce these things off of each other, so we get second opinions and don't take the bait and get screwed.....

Good post, thanks...

Connor MacIVOR
www.Paris911.com
connor@paris911.com

Oct 14, 2007 04:17 AM

Wayne Miller

San Diego, CA

Larry, this type of scam have been around for years. I think the tv network NBC did a piece on it.

Oct 14, 2007 04:17 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Larry,

God forbid some 'legitimate' foreigner should need the assistance of one of us in America! It's all about ID! Don't ever give out any personal info, particularly SSN's or account numbers! Thanks, Fran

Oct 14, 2007 04:20 AM

Keith Perry

Coldwell Banker - Hiram, GA

REALTOR - West Metro Atlanta

DELETE, what a good button to have. Whats sad is they do get response on them. Great post!

Oct 14, 2007 04:22 AM

Jason Smith

DreamDirt Auction - Mondamin, IA

Its not just Realtors. When I was a Police Chief I used to get the same emailed and our domain name had the word police in it. Take a look at this website http://www.fakechecks.org/

To most people this sticks out as a scam but an amazing number of people actually fall victim to this. The scam has been around for years and is still effective for the scammers.

Oct 14, 2007 04:24 AM

Marlene Bridges

Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA

Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate

There are many people who are desperate or just have a sincee desire to help others that will be duped into falling for this kind of scam. That's the saddest part of all is that it's really nice people who get swindled.

Oct 14, 2007 04:35 AM

Daniel Sundberg

Crystal Springs Real Estate - Kentwood, MI

I found a way to include the entire Nigeria IP range into my website's Ban List, just so those buggers don't make it into my client list somehow. Its amazing what these people will try.

Oct 14, 2007 04:53 AM

Victor DaGraca

Critical Home Inspections - Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach Home Inspections

Daniel.... Feel free to share...........

How did you get them excluded?

Oct 14, 2007 04:58 AM

Don Stern

Realty Executives South Louisiana - Baton Rouge, LA

Greater Baton Rouge Real Estate

I've received that one hundreds of times... The latest batch seem to be from "Banks" that want me to "Confirm" my information.

Oct 14, 2007 05:18 AM