I got one of "those" contacts one day. You know similar to a Nigerian prince wanting to just send me money. I am a skeptic and always have been. I will trust, but only if I can verify.
So I started with the tax records... yup right name and I'll be damned the address was indeed Nairobi. (who would have believed), but I didn't stop with the address. I called the clerk of courts (which I sold two homes to) and had him hop on over to the department and check the signatures on the address change form. Yup they matched the original buyer. Day one I called my preferred attorney and had one of the attorneys there start digging. He eventually found the real guy's email address online.
Keep digging... Found that the original address at the time of the purchase showed the owner living in a small south Georgia town. Looked up name in that county and found he owned a house there. And what do you know it's about 5 blocks from the local police station. So I called the non emergency police number and spoke with a detective that knows the man. He drove to his house and found out he was indeed out of the country. The lady living in the house he owned knew where he was. Also the detective I spoke with had actually had a conversation with him in the past couple of weeks.
So I asked "potential spammer" to tell me the name of the detective and send his photo ID. Well I got a photo ID which I in turn texted to the detective, right name,
wrong face. I could have just "let it go" and ignore the request. But now I have the IP address of a scammer which I (from the contact information from the detective once we knew a scammer was at work) and emailed him all the details. I also went to the property and placed a sign on it that it is NOT for sale and to contact the detective in the event you have been told it is for sale. (It's just land).
I can almost guarantee that if the detective, real owner or county clerk ever need a real estate agent or know someone who does in my market they will direct them my way. If you are looking for a real estate firm that always goes the extra mile to protect property owners and the transaction just give us a call at Lane Realty. I promise we do everything in our power to make sure things are on the up and up. 706-485-9668
and...
IF YOU LIVE IN GEORGIA AND OWN PROPERTY IN A HUMAN NAME (doesn't work for businesses) you should register to get notified if something is filed.
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