How to sniff out a scam for use of funds?

How to sniff out a scam for use of funds?

Investor · Mableton, GA · Member since 2013 · 78 posts · 43 votes

I have been active on the internet lately promoting some properties.

I received an email asking if i needed use of funds and for what for from a direct internet connection.

I responded with:

Transactional funding use of funds for 24 hours or maybe up to 3 days max

Rehab funding acquisition to disposition 6 months use max

Long term hold funding acquisition, rehab and paying back the loan with funding from tenant funding 10 years if acceptable.

Odd things:

1) Speaks broken English with complete American Name (Sounds Asian)

2) Uses a google voice number

3) Asks if i am married

4) Calling me several times asking me the same questions that i had already answered.

5) Gave terms but never said anything about approximate value of property that he would loan on ie 65% LTV 70% LTV

Terms:

10% down and 5% Interest from $50K to 1M send a copy of my license. And i would need to sign a guarantee document that his CA attorney will provide.  i requested this form

I looked on google to find this person but could not tell if this was the right person on the internet.

I am going to ask for direct phone number.

If it is a scam an naive person would send the 10% expecting to get the remainder funding but it never comes.

I am thinking that this looks like a duck and sounds like a duck..

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Johnna

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Real Estate Investor · Country Club Hills, IL · Member since 2013 · 67 posts · 22 votes
12y

Quack, Quack!

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Real Estate Investor · Country Club Hills, IL · Member since 2013 · 67 posts · 22 votes
    12y

    Quack, Quack!

  • Real Estate Investor · Los Alamos, NM · Member since 2014 · 151 posts · 52 votes
    12y

    I have considered hard money lenders but only referrals from people I know.  I wouldn't get into a lending relationship outside my network if it's not a bank. Even if they don't ask if I am married.

  • Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    To protect yourself, you should put the 10% in escrow (title company) and once they see that money, they should wire the 90% - also to the title company you're using to close on the deal. If they're not willing to do that and they want you to send the money directly to them - RUN in the opposite direction. They are definitely out there to scam you.

  • Real Estate Investor · Yakima, WA · Member since 2014 · 79 posts · 25 votes
    12y
    I agree that if you do the deal, using a reputable escrow company would be the only way to do it, but do you really want to work with someone you clearly mistrust?
  • Investor · Mableton, GA · Member since 2013 · 78 posts · 43 votes
    12y

    well as @Gary Shaw so aptly said..Quack! Quack! looks, smells, acts and sounds like a duck..move on..

    I wanted to put this out so others that who were not as experienced would see how this could easily (and more than likely) be a scam to get money and disappear..come on a google voice number, really?

  • Real Estate Investor · Los Alamos, NM · Member since 2014 · 151 posts · 52 votes
    12y

    @Johnna Lodge 

    thanks johnna

    if you are not paying attention to what is going on and listening to your instincts, you will get burned. it's part of what makes this interesting to me.

  • Real Estate Investor · Los Alamos, NM · Member since 2014 · 151 posts · 52 votes
    12y

    @Johnna Lodge 

    that said, it's amazing to me how obvious most scams are.  if you are paying attention, you immediately know you've got a scam.

  • Rental Property Investor · Douglas County, MO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    So would a legitimate HM lender ask you to send (or place in escrow) money in order to get a loan? If I need $100k I'd have to put $10k in escrow, then he sends me $100k? That just sounds crazy! But then, I've only had loans through the bank . . .

  • Investor · Mableton, GA · Member since 2013 · 78 posts · 43 votes
    12y

    It is better to use people in your community if you can..

    In regards to financing with hard money lenders, most hard money lenders do require "skin in the game" ..(money at the time of closing in order to close on the project)..they like to know you are vested in the project. Usually they will charge you for an appraisal, closing costs, lenders insurance as well and some other fees possibly...

    of course hard money loans are based on a loan to value ratio that a hard money lender feels comfortable with..some are 65% to 70% Loan to Value (LTV).

    the person that i spoke with never asked anything about LTV.

    A lender has to look at each loan as if they would have a defaulted note. By looking at it this way it helps them determine if it would be a property they would loan at and also experience level of the investor.They usually do not want the properties back but if it goes bust they want to make sure they are protected.

  • Ben StoodleyBusiness Member
    Lender · San Diego, CA · Member since 2014 · 266 posts · 161 votes
    12y

    @Sylvia B. that does sound strange. We've never required that. All we require is to have the borrower deposit his down payment in Escrow before COE... then we will fund. Essentially just making sure the borrower has done his part then we do ours. 

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