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Updated over 11 years ago, 07/03/2013

User Stats

34
Posts
2
Votes
Lucy Rowens
  • Renter
  • Grant, AL
2
Votes |
34
Posts

Is this a Scam?

Lucy Rowens
  • Renter
  • Grant, AL
Posted

[b]I got the following in email today, sounds good but also sounds fishy. I'd be willing to help them but don't want to be involved in anything illegal at the same time. What do you think?

Good Day,

It is my pleasure to contact you and I will be glad to have your kind response. I am a private consultant for very eminent personnel in the Asian
and Middle East region. Presently, I have a client from Malaysia who has appointed me to source on his behalf a credible foreigner with whom
he can jointly entrust a reasonable amount of money, which will be channeled into a highly lucrative business venture. The investor is not expected
participate in the decision of what projects to be invested in but would rather prefer to leave that to you. Your role will be to manage the investments
and make regular reports to show progress.

This is the proposal in summary:

1. My client is a top politician/government official in the Asian and Middle East region who wants the funds to be invested through a well-established
businessman abroad who can front on his behalf.
2. All that is required is your willingness to invest this money for him in a highly lucrative business venture under strict profitable monitoring.
3. A power of attorney will be given to you to manage these funds on his behalf.
4. You will be awarded as compensation a certain percentage from the proceeds of the investment, which is still negotiable. Furthermore, you will be
getting an incentive for participating fully in claiming the funds, which would be approved in your name (or company name) as you chose.
5. The Investment funds have been set on $35M (Thirty five Million United States Dollars Only).

If you think you can handle this amount and invest in a profitable project, then, please get back to me, so that we can discuss more in regards to this.

Best regards,

Norbert Schweizer

User Stats

350
Posts
138
Votes
Brett Russell
  • Investor
  • Chelsea, MI
138
Votes |
350
Posts
Brett Russell
  • Investor
  • Chelsea, MI
Replied

Yes, it's a scam.

User Stats

1,856
Posts
656
Votes
Mary B.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Lansdowne, PA
656
Votes |
1,856
Posts
Mary B.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Lansdowne, PA
Replied

So sad that there's an over abundance of this spamming scam giving international dealings two thumbs down... smh

Kudos,
Mary

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User Stats

90
Posts
21
Votes
Daniel Fisher
  • Real Estate investor
  • Atglen, PA
21
Votes |
90
Posts
Daniel Fisher
  • Real Estate investor
  • Atglen, PA
Replied

I assume anything originating out of the country is a scam.

Also, there is no way a foreigner with that amount of capitol will entrust a total stranger.

User Stats

6,201
Posts
4,342
Votes
Dawn Anastasi
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Milwaukee, WI
4,342
Votes |
6,201
Posts
Dawn Anastasi
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Milwaukee, WI
Replied

If you suspect it's a scam, and have to ask if it's a scam ... it's a scam.

User Stats

127
Posts
37
Votes
Bill Horton
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Canby, OR
37
Votes |
127
Posts
Bill Horton
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Canby, OR
Replied

No doubt in my mind that's a scam.

User Stats

833
Posts
197
Votes
Carolina E.
  • Investor
  • NW Indiana
197
Votes |
833
Posts
Carolina E.
  • Investor
  • NW Indiana
Replied

Lucy Rowens it's a scam, but I would be curious how he got your info.

User Stats

34
Posts
2
Votes
Lucy Rowens
  • Renter
  • Grant, AL
2
Votes |
34
Posts
Lucy Rowens
  • Renter
  • Grant, AL
Replied

thank you all for replying. I was really hoping it was legit because I've been searching for someone with more money than time to partner with so that I could invest their money into tax liens and deeds. I enjoyed going to my 1st auction last May and want to do more. Right now I'm waiting for my own liens to redeem in 2015 so I can do it again. Take care y'all and God bless.

User Stats

34
Posts
2
Votes
Lucy Rowens
  • Renter
  • Grant, AL
2
Votes |
34
Posts
Lucy Rowens
  • Renter
  • Grant, AL
Replied
Originally posted by Carolina E:
Lucy Rowens it's a scam, but I would be curious how he got your info.

so would I, because I only use that email on REI sites like this one and that's why I thought it was legit.

User Stats

2,006
Posts
357
Votes
Raymond B.
  • Florida
357
Votes |
2,006
Posts
Raymond B.
  • Florida
Replied

Lucy Rowens,
Someone has figured out how to get our email address from this site.
I've been getting emails concerning RE, and this is the only RE site that I have ever posted on.

Raymond

User Stats

415
Posts
484
Votes
Paul B.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Alpharetta, GA
484
Votes |
415
Posts
Paul B.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Alpharetta, GA
Replied

Raymond, your email address appears at the bottom of each of your posts.

User Stats

7,658
Posts
4,299
Votes
Roy N.
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Fredericton, New Brunswick
4,299
Votes |
7,658
Posts
Roy N.
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Fredericton, New Brunswick
ModeratorReplied
Originally posted by Carolina E:
Lucy Rowens it's a scam, but I would be curious how he got your info.

The days of sending blanket "spam" messages are dwindling and methods to detect and discard them are making this approach less effective.

The "new generation" of scammers/spammers are using "big data" to mine many social media and on-line forums to build profiles on individuals. When these new spammers/scammers/etc. reach out to you they will know a surprising amount of information about you; your interestes, hobbies, causes; your {online} acquaintances and the organisations/institutions with whom you deal.

From the "geek seat" of my non real estate job {Information Security & Privacy), it has been interesting watching this evolution. It has also been extremely disheartening watching it be successful with seniors in particular {just as the telephone scammer targets the elderly, so do many of their online peers}.

We are all going to receive more of these unsolicited emails where the author sounds like they know us, or are a friend of a friend.

  • Roy N.
  • User Stats

    15,164
    Posts
    11,238
    Votes
    Joel Owens
    Agent
    Pro Member
    • Real Estate Broker
    • Canton, GA
    11,238
    Votes |
    15,164
    Posts
    Joel Owens
    Agent
    Pro Member
    • Real Estate Broker
    • Canton, GA
    ModeratorReplied

    I get some spam even with filters everyday. Just pick one time a day to dump it all.

    It's just part of connecting and doing business. If my e-mail controls were so tight that I missed an important e-mail or new connection that was flagged as something else then my server might block it before it even gets there.

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    User Stats

    34
    Posts
    2
    Votes
    Lucy Rowens
    • Renter
    • Grant, AL
    2
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Lucy Rowens
    • Renter
    • Grant, AL
    Replied

    Well, with that being said especially about telephone scammer targeting the elderly, has me scared about a "so-called home visit" from supposedly a person from my insurance, Humana. Twice 2 different ladies called even after I told the 2nd one that one of them was coming on 7/11, she insisted her visit was different. The caller ID had a toll free # on it, not Humana. I'm wondering how this person got my info and should I cancel the appt?

    Originally posted by Roy N.:
    Originally posted by Carolina E:
    Lucy Rowens it's a scam, but I would be curious how he got your info.

    The days of sending blanket "spam" messages are dwindling and methods to detect and discard them are making this approach less effective.

    The "new generation" of scammers/spammers are using "big data" to mine many social media and on-line forums to build profiles on individuals. When these new spammers/scammers/etc. reach out to you they will know a surprising amount of information about you; your interestes, hobbies, causes; your {online} acquaintances and the organisations/institutions with whom you deal.

    From the "geek seat" of my non real estate job {Information Security & Privacy), it has been interesting watching this evolution. It has also been extremely disheartening watching it be successful with seniors in particular {just as the telephone scammer targets the elderly, so do many of their online peers}.

    We are all going to receive more of these unsolicited emails where the author sounds like they know us, or are a friend of a friend.

    User Stats

    403
    Posts
    59
    Votes
    Ben Hughes
    • Investor
    • Cypress, TX
    59
    Votes |
    403
    Posts
    Ben Hughes
    • Investor
    • Cypress, TX
    Replied

    That scam has been going around for years. I thought everyone had already received thousands of those already.

    User Stats

    3,269
    Posts
    2,367
    Votes
    Ann Bellamy
    • Lender
    • Tyngsboro, MA
    2,367
    Votes |
    3,269
    Posts
    Ann Bellamy
    • Lender
    • Tyngsboro, MA
    Replied

    Lucy, call the customer service number for your Humana (not the number the "lady" gave you) and verify that they have people coming to your house.

    Why would your insurance company come to your house?

    It's likely that it could be a scam too, although I know nothing about your situation. Be cautious. Have someone there with you.

    User Stats

    34
    Posts
    2
    Votes
    Lucy Rowens
    • Renter
    • Grant, AL
    2
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Lucy Rowens
    • Renter
    • Grant, AL
    Replied
    Originally posted by Ann Bellamy:
    Lucy, call the customer service number for your Humana (not the number the "lady" gave you) and verify that they have people coming to your house.

    Why would your insurance company come to your house?

    It's likely that it could be a scam too, although I know nothing about your situation. Be cautious. Have someone there with you.

    Thank you Ann, I took your advice and called Humana and they told me they DO provide that service but I'm still unclear if the call actually came from them or not as it's not noted in their files nor did she say it has to be. So whether the one coming is actually from Humana or not remains to be seen. Again I thank you for your reply as well as all the others here at BP

    User Stats

    16,121
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    5,815
    Votes
    Joshua Dorkin
    Pro Member
    #2 Questions About BiggerPockets & Official Site Announcements Contributor
    • BiggerPockets Founder
    • Maui, HI
    5,815
    Votes |
    16,121
    Posts
    Joshua Dorkin
    Pro Member
    #2 Questions About BiggerPockets & Official Site Announcements Contributor
    • BiggerPockets Founder
    • Maui, HI
    Replied
    Originally posted by Raymond B.:
    Lucy Rowens,
    Someone has figured out how to get our email address from this site.
    I've been getting emails concerning RE, and this is the only RE site that I have ever posted on.

    Raymond

    Raymond -
    If you remove your email from your signature, the only way someone can get your email address will be to send you a colleague request and you accept it. That's likely how people are getting it.

    Otherwise, there isn't any way to get your addy.

    That said, if people are doing that and are emailing you solicitations, please forward them to us at [email protected] -- that's a big no, no and we'll be happy to ban them from the site.

    User Stats

    34
    Posts
    2
    Votes
    Lucy Rowens
    • Renter
    • Grant, AL
    2
    Votes |
    34
    Posts
    Lucy Rowens
    • Renter
    • Grant, AL
    Replied
    Originally posted by Ben Hughes:
    That scam has been going around for years. I thought everyone had already received thousands of those already.

    Thank you Ben for your reply but many of us here like myself haven't been in RE very long. I thought I must had posted somewhere about my birddog services of looking to partner up in buying tax liens and deeds, with someone who has money but not got the time to do the research and purchase the liens and deeds so when I received that email I had hoped and had to make sure it was from one of them.

    Nevertheless, I am SO THANKFUL for all of your replies, and am proud to have found BP where I'm getting good advice from all you 'angels'. I'm sure a lot of other newbies like myself appreciate y'all as well. Thanks again and God bless and protect you all.

    Lucy R

    User Stats

    2,006
    Posts
    357
    Votes
    Raymond B.
    • Florida
    357
    Votes |
    2,006
    Posts
    Raymond B.
    • Florida
    Replied

    Paul B.,
    Thank you for bringing that to my attention.
    I forget, that my email address was in my signature.
    I've removed it.

    Raymond