Is This A Scam??

Question

the following answer came back in response to an apt rental query. Tell me what you think..would YOU take this guy up on his offer?

Hi,

My name is William James.I am in my early age of 50s and I am an european . I come to the states often mostly for business purposes because I deal mostly in Furniture. I furniture to stores in the states and europe . Infact that is my family business cos we are from france. I bought a house last year in the states cos i love it there .It is peaceful and with a loving neighbourhood.

Unfortunately my Mother passed away on the 7th of May 2006 and as the only son in my family i have to go and take care of the family business back in France and i realised that it will be very difficult to supply goods to my clients again in the United states while am away and it will definitely cost me alot to come over to receive payments cos they pay mostly in checks and money orders .

Running the business from there it will be difficult and will be impossible especially the aspect of payment and i dont also want to lose my clients or customers there . So what i intend doing is that i am looking for some one to stay at my house free of charge. I dont want to sell the house cos i just bought it and i will have all the rest papers by August but i have ALL the keys now. I am simply looking for someone that is honest and trustworthy and clean for two reasons:

1. to maintain the house when i am away and
2.To help me receive payments from my clients within the USA on my behalf in his/her name and have it cashed cos they pay mostly checks and money orders and have the funds wired to me here in France thru money gram transfer/western union transfer . You dont have to pay me for the accommodation. its just for the purpose of keeping my business going on in the United state.and if you wanna keep this assignment as a job let me know so i can allocate 10% on each payment that you receive if at all you dont wanna live in the house or if you are far from the house.

The house is a great one,living room,bedrooms,bathroom,parking space e.tc furnished as well . If you want i can email you more pictures and if you are interested i will send the keys to you via courier so you can go and see the house. It is a very lovely house and there is no way you wont like it.

If you are interested in handling my business in the state and keeping the house neat, please send me your full name and address with your phone number and also for me to be able to no how far the place is from your present residential place.I am back in France. you send back your response to my personal email:([e-mail])
I've been hard hearing for 4 yrs so i won't be able to make phone conversations but i can always email you anytime.

Thanks

William.

Answer 1

Definate Scam!
1: You can't contact him via phone
2: Only email provided is through hotmail
3: Wants a total stranger to handle his "business"

Ya right....
Mind you, why don't you email the guy, and just say you'd like some more info... Dont' give any of your personal info though... probably a nutcase!

Answer 2

If he asks you to deposit the checks in your account and then send him a check, don't. The checks will bounce and you'll be held responsible for your check which will have cleared the bank. Also be careful about transfers of money. Anything or combination of some things over $10,000 need to be reported to the government. I don't think you're from here so I think this whole thing sounds pretty stupid to me. I would suggest everyone be very careful.

Answer 3

Even if this house really exists and you get to live there for free just as he said, it is then most likely a money laudering scam. There is no reason what so ever that a legitimate business person would have you deposit funds into your own account and then send them money!
Just that you have to ask the question "is it a scam?" should already tip you off. Be careful what you get yourself into.

Answer 4

Its a scam, I received the same email as I'm sure a million other people die. Each person that believes this guy he makes money, that is how this money scam works.

Do not fall for it. In fact contact the FBI with every email he has sent you. they will want to look at your email too.

I could tell you a real story but its too long here.

No I didn't get scammed, I turned someone in.............

Answer 5

William - anything that sounds too good to be true is a scam. This one doesn't pass the smell test, for sure. Sadly, many kind hearted (or greedy) people fall for this stuff. I don't even open these emails - and you shouldn't either if you don't recognize the sender. That's how viruses spread.

Answer 6

Scam. Why would he allow you, someone he doesn't know, to live in his house for free and keep 10% of his money.

Remember if it seems to good to be true.

Here are two very good gov't website to help you spot fraud now and in the future.

http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/cyberfraud.htm

http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx

Answer 7

Yes, it is a scam.

Different sorry....same scam.

The checks will look real but about two weeks after you deposit them, they will bounce. Of course, this is after you wired the money overseas.

Answer 8

Here's a simple rule of thumb for telling if something is a scam:

If you have to ask "Is this a scam?" it is a scam.

Answer 9

Of course it is. Don't get taken. This is a variation on the Nigerian scam.