weird email......

[Gibson486]

My g/f got this weird email. I have a pretty good feeling it is a scam, but teh scary thing is that the email was adressed t her sister but sent to her. The person who made this email did an awful job, because 1) its all in caps 2)there are some grammer errors 3) disconnecting you internet provider has nothing to do with credit. Any way i can track thsi fool down?

" I AM HELPING YOUR PARENTS TO BUY A HOME IN FLORIDA AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE INTERNET PROVIDER THEREFORE, I AM TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU.
THERE IS A STUDENT LOAN THAT YOUR PARENTS CO-SIGNED FOR YOU. I NEED A LETTER FROM THE LOAN COMPANY STADING HOW MUCH YOU PAY MONTHLY AND THE CURRENT BALANCE. I NEED THIS INFORMATION URGENT YOUR PARENTS ARE ABOUT TO LOOSE THEIR HOME BY A COMPANY THAT IS BEING VERY BAD AND WANT TO TAKE YOUR PARENTS MONEY.
PLEASE CALL ME URGENT AT 888-398-7776. MY FAX NUMBER IS 386-437-7754. MY CELL PHONE NUMBER IS 386-931-1777.

PLEASE CALL ME URGENT TO HELP YOU GET THIS INFORMATION.


PATRICIA HOSKINS"

 

[notfred]

Please go vote "yes" in the "Are you a moron?" thread just for even considering for a moment that this might be real. Like her parents wouldn't have called if they needed her to help save thier house.

 

[AgentEL]

i wonder if anyone gets fooled by a letter like that

 

[Scarpozzi]

LOL.....good grief.

 

[Gibson486]

Who said that i thought this was real? I am just concerned because the email contained some personal stuff, which I took off on the post. It is not just any personal stuff, some personal stuff taht only friends would know.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Who said that i thought this was real? I am just concerned because the email contained some personal stuff, which I took off on the post. It is not just any personal stuff, some personal stuff taht only friends would know.

Yeah, sure, that's why in the original post you said "This is wierd, how did they get my personal information?" and not "teh scary thing is that the email was adressed t her sister...".

 

[RalphKramden]

Hey Gibson, what's your email. I have a bridge for sale I'd like to forward you.

 

[Gibson486]

Yeah, sure, that's why in the [/h]original[/h] post you said "This is wierd, how did they get my personal information?" and not "teh scary thing is that the email was adressed t her sister...".

Um, what original post are you referring too? I never said ""This is wierd, how did they get my personal information?".

 

[Gibson486]

Guys, just forget it.

 

[flot]

Well, according to Google, those are in fact legitimate numbers for:

East Trust Mortgage, Corp.
Patricia Hoskins
904 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL
Phone: (386) 437-7715 Fax: (386) 437-7754

Now, just because the #s match with a person/company doesn't mean anything, but it's certainly odd. Also there's no reason to assume that the above is either legit or a scam, it just provides SOME level of validation to the name and # you've already got.

However, that is *totally* legitimate information for a mortgage broker to be asking for. (not that it makes any sense to plead for it in all caps) In all honesty, is your gf *POSITIVE* that her parents aren't doing something with either the refinance or purchase of a house?

Also, almost everything in the email looks pretty reasonable if you take it from the perspective of a 40-60 year old mortgage "professional" who isn't computer literate. In fact, as far as spelling, computer skills, and grammar - it looks like something either of my parents would write. The glaring exception is "BY A COMPANY THAT IS BEING VERY BAD AND WANT TO TAKE YOUR PARENTS MONEY" - which is completely unprofessional and is the one thing that makes this sound very scamlike. ???

 

[Gibson486]

However, that is *totally* legitimate information for a mortgage broker to be asking for. (not that it makes any sense to plead for it in all caps) In all honesty, is your gf *POSITIVE* that her parents aren't doing something with either the refinance or purchase of a house?

Her parent's just built a new house.

 

[flot]

Let me guess, a new house in palm beach florida?

 

[Gibson486]

NOt sure whcih city, but yeah, in florida. I know that the email adress came from an internet provider called bestnetpc.com. I have a feeling i know who it is, but io dont want to act on it until i am sure.

edit: why would you say palm beach?

 

[flot]

Well let me put it this way. If in fact her parents were in financial trouble, it would not be unfathomable that they wouldn't tell their daughter(s) about it. It's also perfectly reasonable that your gf does in fact have student loans which her parents are cosigners on. Depending on how this appears on their credit, it could look like *they* are the ones responsible for the $x a month payment, which could seriously impact their ability to get financing.

I'd say the odds of this being a scam are about even with the odds that your gf's parents don't tell her their financial details. I certainly wouldn't advise giving out any information to this patricia without confirming what is going on - but that would be an awfully complicated scam to get some pretty worthless information. I'm going through getting a mortgage right now, so I can tell you that they definitely INSIST on knowing all your debts and liabilites, and if for instance her parents had left some things off on their application, its possible that their financing could be under review and might get cancelled.

Edit: I said palm beach because this patricia's mortgage company is listed as being in palm beach.

Edit 2: I'm not saying it's NOT a scam, but I'm saying I'd definitely look into it carefully.

Edit 3: The 888 number you provided links to a normal home phone number in area code 386, which again according to google is registered to Lance and Patricia Hoskins, (386) 437-6132, 12 Poppy Ln, Palm Coast, FL 32164 .

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So, for being a potential scam, they certainly seem to have given you a lot of semi-legit information. The only really unverifiable thing in there is the cell phone # - and of course all you have to do is call that number and ask for particia or lance and see what happens.

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Edit 4: I'd just like to point out that you can find out anything online. There's lots of other things you could do from here (for instance you could look up court records for patricia or your gf's parents in the appropriate county) but I leave that as an exercise for the reader.

 

[Smolek]

Its a double edged sword. If its not fake then there is trouble. If it is you certainly dont want to give the info out. Best thing to do is print the email and confront the parents.

 

[Glitchny]

umm talk to the parents... they should know the truth of the situation and if it was that important the company would CALL the parents, not only go through email

 

[Maharaja]

Why not just call that phone number? That would answer your questions pretty quickly.

 

[Smolek]

Originally posted by: Maharaja
Why not just call that phone number? That would answer your questions pretty quickly.

Yes, but if its a scam the person isnt going to say "yes this is a scam. So you dont get anywhere. Best Bet is to go to the parents

 

[StageLeft]

Send it. Once they get that loan information they can pull up your credit report and really fug you in the butt. Then my little credit issue I had today will seem like a wet dream.

 

[Psycho18]

Why do people have to be total idiots?