Paphos People

I haven't posted for a while. Our holiday was great and we arrived back in the UK after a five week break. We have since then gone into overdrive trying to sortthe house. We have reviewed the house price and reduced it but still no interest. I recently advertised the property on one of theh free house selling websites. After a few days I got a lead asking for further details, nothing happened for a while, then yesterday I received another email asking if they could come and view at the weekend?asked for solicitors details the address and phone number so they could contact us and what our best price would be, I was a little wary but supplied all info required. The email had a UK address and the name of he interested party(a Dr David Nicholson). Being a nosy person I searched the address and his name on the internet, the doctors name came up with details in the area of the address given and the address apeared to be a bed and breakfast. I noted down the phone number and after giving it some thought rang. I asked the woman who answwered the phone if a Dr Nicholson lived there and her reply was "OH no not another one" she had had 5 calls all asking the same question one from an estate agent?! she had since called the police and advised them of the scam?

I have also had a long chat with our local bobbys, not that they can do anything about it as no crime has been committed? but I cant help wondering what will come of this isf anything. We haven't been asked for any money or bank details only that they are interested in buying our house and want to view on saturday. Has anyone else experienced this or heard about this before?
Your comments would be much appreciated
On a brighter note our latest granddaughter made her appearance this mornng at 9min past 6 a healthy 7lb14oz, little Hermione and mum are doing well

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Maid Marion:)

Congrate on the birth of your Granddaugter

As for this Dr, it's probably some nosey person trying to find out the prices of housess in your area, you've done the best thing & informd the police, at least that way they can act if something does happen, not that it will

Sorry to disagree this email has come from Senegal and the english is very poor, he had incuded a scan of his passport which appears to be English? worrying as not sure what he can gain by asking details etc

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Maid Marion:)

Sorry Marion but if you'd given those details in the first place, my response might have been different, as I can only reply on what information I've read

Sorry Pete
Just have been very spooked by the whole thing and worrying about what info they can find out about us by info given

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Maid Marion:)

Well Marion, unless they're PP members they won't find anything out on here

I got an email the other day saying I've inherited $16million from a uncle & as I'm his only living relative, I should contact this other person whos email addres was given

Well I wouldn't mind but the fact is, I have 2 brothers & 3 sisters & the return email address was a Hotmail account so knoew straight away it wasn't genuine, I just deleted it

So if you get anything like this in the future, if its from a Hotmail or Yahoo account, just delete it & forget about it, if its genuine, they'll get in touch by other means

May be coincidence, but David Nicholson is the name of the Chief Executive of the NHS....

Shouldn't think you've anything to worry about as long as you've provided no personal details.

Copy Of email:-

Hi

You were contacted by my daughter Miss Chantal concerning your property which is for sale, actually we have schedule to view on Saturday 12/07/2008. Is this OK with you?

Our solicitor is informed but on holidays now, so we will like you to kindly state again the full address of the property, your full contacts and that of your solicitor. What is your last asking price for the property? My names and address thus

Dr David Allan Nicholson
56 South Parade
Northallerton
North Yorkshire

You can get me on phone 00221-768582420 as me and my family are presently in Dakar Senegal and will be leaving back to North Yorkshire , attached to this email is my passport to get the purchase process moving. If you hav any question, don't hesitate to conact me, I awaits your urgent reply
Dr David
end of email

Ive checked the Nothallerton address, its a bed and breakfast. The passport is of an English man? born in 1943 in Yorkshire.

This is all rather odd and not sure what to make of it? any ideas, has anyone else had an email like this?

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Maid Marion:)

It's almost certainly a scam Marion - the precise angle isn't immediately apparent but the hallmarks are all there. It could be sending a copy of his passport is a pre-cursor to asking you to reciprocate at some point?

Don't send him any more info at all - it looks like the lead-in to a typical 419 scam to me (Google it for loads of info!)

Marian - it's definitely a scam. When I was working last year, I had a very similar email from a Dr Gary Jett. (yes, I know - I said it was a scam, my Cypriot boss didn't seem to think so). I sent him property details, got a reply back - this went on three or four times, til eventually he said he definitely wanted to buy a secific property. My boss was soooooo excited - til he asked for our bank account number to "pay the deposit in to". At this stage my boss listened to me, and when I asked for HIS bank account all communication stopped! Happened again when someone supplied copies of passport - again a scam.

Do not give them any further information - tell them they must come to you - it won't happen!

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Jean

Retirement - harder work than working - But much more fun

Thanks Jean for that advise it will be interesting to see what happens next as they are suposed to view this weekend. I was really intersted in the fact that the police didnt want to know and they could do nothing about this sort of thing.

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Maid Marion:)

I think it's because technically he hadn't done anything wrong - YET! All I can say is IF he turns up, make sure everything goes through your estate agent and solicitor - do not give any bank details, and make sure any payments he makes are secure before the next stage.

Good luck, and keep us posted

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Jean

Retirement - harder work than working - But much more fun

Maid Marion

I agree with others that it is a scam and not to be followed up any further. As regards to the police non involvement, Jean is right, he hasn't actually done anything wrong at this stage - he asked for your details and you gave them to him

I would have questioned why he needed solicitor details at this stage when he hadn't even seen the property - you could have given them to him when he had seen and made an offer on your property, until that point there is no requirement for him to have them.

Have you tried to call him? Not that it would achieve anything, just wondering if you had.

Also, why does he think you would need a copy of his passport?

Just ignore or report as scam any further emails you get from him. Most of these scams originate from Nigeria and I think I am right in saying that ISP providers gather these details and follow them up (not sure how tho!).

On a more serious note, I would also be thinking about the security of your property at this time. If you are not using an agent, be careful about who you show around your house - there are unscrupulous people about who will be 'casing' to see what you have on the pretence of being potential buyers. Also, I would keep a close eye on your financial affairs - just in case anything starts going amiss from your bank account. Based on the info you have given it is unlikely but keep an eye out.

Sorry to heap more worry on you but just bear it in mind.

Sarah

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Sarah & Phil

Thanks Sarah

We have been keeping a close watch on bank accounts and other than a payment into our account from an unknown sorce nothing else has happened. We do have an estate agent working for us, but as I was browsing, thought I would try and put the details on one of the free ad sites myself and see what happened. We have been sorting for months now and most things have been sold on ebay so there isnt much here for anyone to steal. As I have said before we have a very unusual house, (it has a Granny annexe) which will always be difficult to sell as we are in a specialised market so any additional cover I can get to try and sell it I thought would be helpful. We have been on the market since before Easter and only had one viewing and one cancellation, have done what the agent said and reduced the price, by a whopping £25,000 and still not a whisper so back to the drawing board to try and thinkwhat else to do may have to rent it out but again think that may be a problem as its so large.

Think I could do with a holiday but I am du to go to my daughters and looka fter her when she comes out of hospital on Saturday, perhaps we will try and get a break after that!

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Maid Marion:)

Several issues here and several avenues for fraud and potential fraud. Very worrying is , this could well be an attempt to make sure the account selected is a bonafide account, is working and can be later plundered. Ensure your bank is informed that any large payment of say over £500 should not be honoured without your authority.

Giving your address and names, can provide a fraudster with the initial means to obtain credit at the address for cars, cards, goods etc, so do a credit check on yourself (we should all do this regularly in any case). I can supply links if needs be.

Your address and current situation means that even if the chappie is in Senegal or whereever, your address can be in the hands of someone who can be at your address quickly for any reason.

Do not divulge even your bank brand and never your account details. Inform you solicitor of the contact and that you have given his details as acting for him. Forearmed is forewarned. The contact can act as a third party to try to sell your property for cash overseas and quote the solicitor/website and it will appear bonafide to a potential buyer. Your solicitor should be aware so he does not divulge anything he shouldnt.

Also forward the email to the local trading standards office who like to compile this type of information to bring possible prosecutions at a later date. Although you think they may be abroad, with electronic comms, they may actually live at the end of your street.....

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Straight talking, no Gimmicks.

Live your dreams.

Hi Tanny You are really worrying me now. The payment into our account was for £12.50 by an IT company who we have had no contact with before, we haven't given our account details to this chap? not even the bank name so it would seem strange that he has managed to make some small payment into it.

I will contatct our solicitor today and see where we stand there. You are right , for warned is forarmed. We had thought about doing a credit check and will do that sometime today. This is all really worrying and I am so cross with myself for being taken in and sending the details in the first place. I knew about all these scams but never thought they would try with something like property, I am really fed up with this country/ world what horrible lot of nasty people there are out there.( apart from on PP of course!)

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Maid Marion:)

Marion, just take simple clear precautions.
1 Be sensible, if you are not sure, then ask a professional you can trust.
2 Make sure every bit of identifyable paper is shredded/burned when you put it out.
3 Dont divulge your details for anyone.....

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Straight talking, no Gimmicks.

Live your dreams.