property scam?

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 2

I recently listed our property for sale with homesonsale, I had a phone call a few days later from Italy, a Mr. Alexander Kalinsky he has a client who wishes to buy this property as an investment, he also requested a few more photos and details of the property. A few days later I received another phone call from him, stating that he has a German client with him in Italy, who is interested in buying the property, but as he is frail he does not like to fly and would I come to Rome as soon as possible. When I told him that this would be impossible for me to do so, he said that we could meet in Zurich, Rome or Barcelona. I am thinking that this may be a scam, but I cannot see what the purpose is. Anyone out there heard of this. I would be most grateful for any suggestions.

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:23 pm

Hello mitzy and welcome here.
I have never seen one like this yet, but it sure looks like a scam, why would you make costs to sell your house for the convenience of that unknown person from Germany. If he wants it he can take the plane and buy it on the spot, you'll be needing his signature anyway.
To check if this guy is for real, put his phone number in here https://www.numberingplans.com//?page=analysis&sub=phonenr and see if that is even close to where he claims he is.
remember, cellphones and landlines can be switched through to other phones/countries so it's no real prove.
His emails, if you have one, could tell you a bit more if you know how to get to the header of the email. Usually in view--> show original
That top part down to the line with Subject is called the header and you can copy it in here http://headertool.apelord.com/ to see where the email came from. Or just post it here and we'll have a look.
If you have the IP# or IP address you might want to fill it in here http://www.nextwebsecurity.com/LocationTools.asp to see if this friend has been registered already.

my $0.02, it's a scam. Others will post here their opinion and then it's up to you Smile

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:44 pm

Whatever you have going on is a scam--a property investor who buys properties in other countries would either check them out himself or have agents in those countries to handle the transactions. No legitimate buyer would expect the seller to travel several hundred miles or more to meet him--I don't know where you are, but if he doesn't want to fly, then it has to be a significant distance.

I can think of a few things that could happen from here. There are probably more I haven't thought of.

The "buyer" could offer to pay for a ticket for you to fly to meet him, and send you a fake check/use a stolen CC to get a ticket in your name. He could then have an emergency of some kind and need you to refund him the ticket money via WU or MG (essentially using you as a check mule/money launderer). Or he could need significant information to buy you tickets and use this information for identity theft.

The "buyer" could set up the meeting, but some major crisis will occur. He will be carrying bags of cash or valuable antiques, and customs can seize them at the airport. He is thrown into jail, and is stranded. You need to bail him out so that he can get his money back (because of course there is never a way they can take the bail out of the money he is carrying). This exact scenario has been used by a scammer claiming his whole family, including his children, were imprisoned on the way to view a property. Or he isn't carrying the money, but he is mugged on the way and needs you to get him back home so he can access his money--but don't worry, he will pay you when he gets back home.

Another scam that has occurred quite a bit lately involves scammers selling property they don't own, literally selling people's houses from under their noses. The scammers walk into a bank, posing as the property owner and a buyer, with fake documents to transfer ownership of the property. Sometimes they even manage to file ownership documents with the local government. The "buyer" then re-sells the property that they never actually owned, pockets the money and walks away--and it can take months or years to sort the mess out. This request could be an attempt to make sure you are away from your property so they can proceed with the scam.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 2

Thanks for coming back to me and confirming what we suspected. I can't make out exactly what I have to do to get the header, but his e-mail is: [email protected]
I hope you can do something with it.

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:38 pm

Yes, it's a scam, well spotted!

Exactly *which* scam I guess we just don't know yet, and I suggest not finding out either Wink

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:46 pm

http://128.175.24.251/headers.htm will show you how to see the header of that email.

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:24 pm

If he were a legit real estate agent he wouldn't be using a free e-mail service such as hotmail.

I can't imagine why he wants YOU to travel. Other than the suggestions Dorothy made.

I can see him putting a deposit down with a fake check, then changing his mind and asking you to return the cash.

Good job on spotting the scammer Smile