Is there a thing as a fraudulent investor?

Is there a thing as a fraudulent investor?

Real Estate Professional · Pembroke, MA · Member since 2015 · 24 posts · 4 votes

Okay. So I don't by any means  intend to sound like a complete moron. But here I am, desperate to get into Real Estate investing, however without the credit or the funds, I really needed a cash investor/investing partner.

I received an email from a Bianca, who says she is Venezuelan and while she is fortunate to come from family money, she has a voice box in her throat and truly can only communicate via email and text. 

After reviewing my RE Business Plans and numbers, she offered to invest $900,000 to start... More if I need it.

Naturally I was taken back by this a bit... I asked certain questions and she politely stated she is not a scammer, and if I didn't want to do business that was perfectly fine. She sent a photo of her pass port. She said a contract would be in place (10 years with 15% of any profits, ROI). She never asked for my social security number or anything like that... And I find myself going..

What kind of scammer would SEND you money? Rather than ask to RECEIVE money?

Anyway, I told her that to be taken seriously I would need proof of funds. I stated that I have a separate account that I don't use for anything, but it's a local bank (Rockland Trust) so I wasn't sure if that would work. I also stated that for HER protection (and my own) a contract should probably be executed before the exchange of funds. Her response was this (she attached a photo of her passport in the email):

Hello Stephanie ,
Am glad as we are proceeding.I will be coming over to have a formal discussion with the company of my Investment Executive in about 4 week’s time and we will be staying until the whole project is completely in operation. Prior to our arrival, you would assist in preparation of our arrival and possibly help to get done one or two things prior to my arrival.All you need is to initiate the process that will enable me to transfer the funds that will be required as soon as we have finalized and agreed to the terms of business. Once we have agreed and satisfy to the terms, the required funds shall be made available within five days. I’m a woman of my words and I believe in action and practical. I love to work with serious minded people and I always appreciate and reward good work and ideas.Please take note of the below information which will be done prior to our arrival.You need to set up a checking and Savings account Chase Bank or Wells fargo Bank or any bank around you..Account and other information used in opening the account will be requested from you to initiate the process of making the funds available.
2. I will initiate funding of the new account with some cash required to prepare and make some arrangement for our arrival.
As soon as we have arrived, discuss and agree to terms, we sign required paperwork. I will initiate transfer of the required principal into the new account.Reply with the below required information:
1. Business name/ Project Name:
2. Name of Facilitator ( Your full name as it will be used in opening of the new bank account that will accommodate the funds required to start and complete the project ):
3. Contact Address:
4. Contact Mobile Phone Number:
5. Contact email address:
6. Valid means of Government Identification.
For purpose of identification, I include my passport as attachment in this email.
NOTE: I check my email almost on hourly basis as this is the only way I communicate until I can have my voice back. I will always appreciate your communication promptly via email. I hope you do receive text message on your phone as well?

I will send you details required of new account set up. I wait to hear from you.

Best Regards,

Bianca Aigster.

^^^^
Anyone else think this is odd? Red Flags? I'm only 25 and super new to this. As weary as I am, I can't help but question... What kind of scammer sends money? But using Wells Fargo or Chase.. Is it possible for someone to get my ssn, etc. ??

HELP! Thanks!

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Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
11y

Guess I don't need to say it's a scam. 

No funds are required up front to wire money into an escrow, any charge can be taken out of those funds.

She doesn't have to steal your ID, you're going to send it to her!

That name and passport.......probably from the last victim. 

Don't wait for them at the airport either, if you do, take a sleeping bag.

They think the voice box disguises the real voice, could be a 55 year old guy, little do they know those can be reversed to disclose the real voice, but it does add to the investigation trying to find them.

Why ask for POF, they'll just give you a fake account at El'Banco with a $20,000,000 balance.

Now, I have to E-Mail my new Russian girlfriend, she's a 26 year old model and needs only ten thousand to get out of her modeling contract and get a ticket to come marry me! Later, :)

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  • Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2010 · 263 posts · 159 votes
    11y

    There´s no way on earth that is a genuine offer @Stephanie Beard. I would attend some local REIA meetings and network with potential partners face to face.

  • Investor · Irvine, CA · Member since 2015 · 373 posts · 205 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Stephanie Beard:

    Maybe I answered my own Q..

    I responded saying I was traveling the next few days, my Marine brother has returned from California (I'm in MA) and Im spending time with him and his new wife..

    She replies:

    Hello Stephanie ,
    Yes that right. and make sure you send the copy of your driver license or any mean of identification and home address.
    Regards,
    Bianca Aigster

    ^^^^.... no! Is that really necessary? What is something an actual investor would require? I can't imagine it's my license, personal home address, etc.

     This isn't real, well it maybe, but not for the purpose the indicate. What could go wrong?

    1. You open an account and give them free reign to use it at their discretion by depositing funds into the account. Money laundering?

    2. They use the account information to have checks printed or make electronic payments beyond the limit of the account, after priming the account with deposits for a period of time to get it into a state that the bank tends to view as seasoned. Then whose responsible for the overdrawn account? The non signature persons with account access, or the person who opened the account and is the signatory on the account?

    There are many more possible corrupt scenarios, but honestly thinking of them all would be to fatiguing, and would probably put me into a sour state of mind. For that kind nefarious of information I'll leave it to the folds at American Greed.

  • Investor · Detroit, MI · Member since 2014 · 755 posts · 462 votes
    11y

    One of the ways it works is they send you too much money by Cashiers Check and you deposit it. 

    Then they have you pay a bill for them in cash only to find out that the CC was counterfeit.

    A common one was an out of the country person transferring her car back to USA. Would pay rent 6 months in advance and $3000 extra. Her "Father" was the one paying for everything and FedExING you the CC.

    Always an excuse why they can't talk on the phone. 

    By the time the CC comes back on your account you've already paid the $3000 to the "company" that is arranging the overseas shipping of her car. 

    Her referencing you assisting with a couple of things is typical 

  • Investor · Roanoke, VA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 374 votes
    11y

    do NOT give them anything 
    run @Stephanie Beard

  • Investor, Realtor, Writer, Podcaster · Billings, MT · Member since 2013 · 175 posts · 97 votes
    11y
    Stephanie, have you thought of doing some wholesaling to build funds? Seems like it would help you to build some capital.
  • Investor · Detroit, MI · Member since 2014 · 755 posts · 462 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Stephanie Beard:
     

    ...And I find myself going..

    What kind of scammer would SEND you money? Rather than ask to RECEIVE money?... 

    That is the way they all start out!  She has sent you nothing!  She never will!

    But they then have 1000 reasons why they need a small amount of money from you so that they can send you a large amount right back.

    Ask a simple question? You will get a "cut and paste" response back that does not fit your question.

  • Investor · Mississauga, ontario · Member since 2014 · 18 posts · 2 votes
    11y

    @Stephanie Beard

    Bianca won't talk because she is a guy😊 There is nothing new here, a variation of Nigerian scam. This may well be a Nigerian central bank impostor or some Nigerian scam copycat.  The sentences, misplaced and misspelled words are deliberate. These guys are professionals in their scamming craft. I talk to the scammers sometimes when I want to have a good chuckle. Ask Bianca to wire you a $100 for starters and you may not hear back from him/her again.

  • Real Estate Professional · Pembroke, MA · Member since 2015 · 24 posts · 4 votes
    11y

    Thank you everyone! Running for the hills, I am!

    I knew the $900k was ALOT. I mean yes I sent big numbers, and yes I could have invested that and structured everything so that the "investor" would get their $900k back plus about another $200k in the first 1 1/2 years.

    But really, I was expecting more, "I like what I see but lets start smaller..." Maybe with a skype or email, or something like that. I mean if I had millions in my bank, and I was going to invest, I would be investigating the person trying to start out a lot more than this "Bianca" is!

    For kicks and giggles, I am going to print everything and bring it to the local police. If they can do something with it great. If not, well, at least I feel I did my part to help the larger public/others from falling for this scam!

    *Runnning awayyyy*

    Thanks everyone!

    I'll stick with trying to find someone who will offer a 35% carry back and pay closing costs. A needle in a hay stack for sure, but it's the only loan I can get for the time being :)

  • Depew, NY · Member since 2015 · 1 post · 0 votes
    11y

    She just responded to my "Looking for Investor" post. 

  • Real Estate Professional · Pembroke, MA · Member since 2015 · 24 posts · 4 votes
    11y

    @Kurt Ciesielski really?  Another BP user sent me a message as well, stating they had ads everywhere for an investor.  She responded to their Craigs List ad..

    I hate to miss the opportunity of a life time, but too many red flags!  Not to mention my sudden decision to take my business affairs elsewhere resulted in the immediate end of any further conversation with "Bianca."

    Wouldn't an actual investor be curious as to why someone they are interested in doing business with, backed out?

    I don't have much to lose honestly, but I certainly don't want to be caught in the middle of some money laundering scheme!

  • Member since 2023 · 1 post · 0 votes
    3y

    Hi Stephanie, I’m the real Bianca Aigster, and let me tell you someone is using my identity to do these scams. If it wasn’t for your post I would’ve never find out. Now, does somebody know how can I make this stop?? Trust, I’m no millionaire and I do live in Venezuela but I’m not sick nor trying to invest in anything. Your curiosity helped me to know this was happening under my name. Thanks Stephanie! 

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