Expert: Sue Bernstein - 9/8/2007

Question
hello and thank you...
i had my Ohio home listed with a realty service for many months without any success. i decided to list my home on one of those sites set up for sellers. i have been contacted by a man who claims to be in the UK who says he wants to buy my home. he is offering a 5% "non-refundable" downpayment in order to secure my property stating that once i receive it he will have his "estate manager/agent come here to inspect the home. the following is the latest email he sent to me...
"Hello Robert
Thank you for the mail and from the details received from your website,i am willing to proceed with the project.The price $142,500  is okay by me and I will forward you an agreement via email to bind this transaction in the mean time. I will also wait for the
simple Real Estate contract from you for my review.
Now, I will need you to email the following details to enable me have this deposit of $7,125 sent to you with a Check  to secure the property:

1. Your NAMES, to be written on the payment.
2. Your Contact ADDRESS, to send the Check
3. Your Telephone number.

When I get the above details from you I can then send them to my accountant to make out the payment and send to you via UPS as soon as possible so that I know I have secured the property pending when I come over in October to finalize things and pay the balance via wire
transfer to your attorney. I will also make arrangements for my estate manager to come view the property when you have received this deposit payment. I wait to read from you soon."

are you aware of any scams that follow this particular pattern? obviously, i will not provide him with any information that is specific to my identity, but these individuals are very clever in their methods. while it would be a God sent miracle for this to be true... i just cant seem to believe that anyone in their right mind would be willing to send over $7000 in a down payment that is non-returnable for a home they have never seen. i have been researching this, but i have seen nothing similar to this thus far.
i would appreciate your thoughts on this when you have time. somehow, i dont think he is going anywhere, so he can obviously afford to wait for my next response :).
thank you very much!
Rob


Answer
Dear Robert,

I think this is more a common sense problem than a real estate problem.  I have not heard of this before but I agree that I wouldn't send him any information whatsoever.  You might respond that you are more than happy to  show the house to his estate manager when he comes to the states and, at that time, if interested he can make an offer.  You might also request a credit report and proof of funds to close the escrow.  My guess is you will not hear from him again.

Hope this helps and I would be interested in hearing a follow up to this one.

Sue Bernstein