When APPLYING for HARD MONEY....BEWARE!!!

Question

I have been shopping for a hard money lender religiously for a prospective property...going on 2 weeks! Hell, I even put out an ad in the BP marketplace. Today, out of nowhere, I receive a long text. It asked me what terms I was needing and an email address where this person could send over an application. Needless to say, I was thrilled! As soon as I received the email, the person asked me to fill it out ASAP and return it...ASAP! I gave it a once over and felt skeptical right off the bat for the following reasons:

1. The email came from a personal account.

2. The application asked for my age.....TWICE

3. The App was Signed by a BILL BIGGS and signature did NOT remotely resemble a BILL BIGGS.

The app said it was from an "Affiliated Mortgage Lending" company based out of Texas. I looked them up on the BBB and Yes that company exists AND with an A+ rating..HOWEVER this scam artist could have easily copied and pasted the info so as to give it "legitimacy".

I texted this *** HAT back and called him out on his nonsense.....All i have received is silence...I have Vowed to text this A-HOle night and day for this attempt into duping me..If ANYONE receives a text from (770) 847-9792 DONT FALL FOR IT!!!! Im LUCKY i didnt get blinded by my Happiness in FINALLY getting a response....and by posting this I hope to open peoples EYES in the real life dangers and EVIL out there

Lew Payne · Answer

As I've grown old, I've grown wiser (my wife calls it skeptical). I share similar frustrations from the other end of the coin, from...1) People writing wanting to know if I'll fund their deal, claiming that they are real estate investors. When I ask them to provide two years worth of property addresses, dates and amounts (normal business due-diligence), they tell me this will be their first deal. Hint - you're not a real estate "investor" if you've never invested... in much the same way as the publisher of a book on neurosurgery is not a qualified surgeon. It's fine to be new - but it's misleading to misrepresent yourself for something you're not.2) People writing wanting to know if I'm interested in funding two or three 7-unit buildings (I received this message today - after they read a post where I complain about how novice investors seem to not be able to provide useful information when communicating)... with no further information. I'm supposed to either guess, or pry it out of them.3) Today, as a result of my post and being online so much (I worked from home this time), I received a chat message asking if I'd like to fund a deal... no further information! When I replied with "email me the details" (I was trying to be nice), the person replied with, "I think you'll think it's a very good deal" - as if they're able to read my mind.4) I received a message from someone claiming to be an investor in FL, wanting to know if I'd fund there (which I do). After I replied, he then asked that I tell him what I'm interested in funding! In other words - represents himself as an "investor" but I have to tell him what property I'd buy!It's a frustrating day, all around... from both sides of the coin, it appears.

Petra M. · Answer

@Esaul ViramontesI wouldn't bother texting them. It's not worth the stress and energy. You escaped unscathed. Be thankful for that!

Yasmine Bisumber · Answer

Ugh, I hate this. We work so hard it isn't fair for others to try and scam investors with real needs for funding. Super glad you didn't fall for it. A Legit lender would have probably went about it differently.

Charles Worth · Answer

@Esaul ViramontesI got the same thing today by e-mail with a different person's name as the person it was supposed to go to. Needless to say I did not reply. This is def a scam.

Randy E. · Answer

@Esaul Viramontes, I'm glad your desperation didn't lead you to a big mistake. Keep looking, and keep hope alive. If it's not this property, you'll break through one day. As long as you keep at it.

Esaul Viramontes · Answer

Yea Lol...doesnt surprise me one bit..... When I texted him asking him how he slept at night knowing he is trying to scam honest folks, his only text back was "We are busy working many other deals, sir" .... Nigerian Scam artists for sure ...LOOK FOR RED FLAGS AT ALL TIMES PEOPLE!

Esaul Viramontes · Answer

I am. I have loved ones that have been scammed and its from their experiences that I have learned....and this is the reason for this very post.....To remind people of the dangers of doing business without proper due diligence....as far as the texts....well ....Ive been having fun buggin' the crap out of this con job...hopefully i bug him/her enough that they ditch that number or make them stop trying to dupe others....

Esaul Viramontes · Answer

I did not.....too many signs that this was a scam early on

Dawn Anastasi · Answer

Hopefully you didn't give out your social security number, birth date, address, etc.

Esaul Viramontes · Answer

Yea...I have been texting this clown all day long with smart ass remarks...Ill be texting him at 3.00 am for kicks and giggles ;)