Whaaat???!!
By paula27661
@paula27661 (15811)
Australia
September 16, 2010 12:23am CST
An Australian man from my home town of Perth left the country only to find out on his return that his house was sold while he was away!
Roger Mildenhall lost his home due to a scam where someone presented him or herself as Mr. Mildenhall through emails and faxes to the real estate agent. The house was sold for $460,000 and the signatures were faked and clearly nothing like the original, copies of which were held in the settlement agent’s records. The proceeds of the sale where deposited in a Chinese bank account. Apparently Mr. Mildnehall is unlikely to get his house back because the buyers bought it in good faith and were not part of the scam. I heard this on the news andthought, “What???” How can this happen? Must we not go away in case someone else moves into our house while we’re gone?
This is the link to the article on UPI.Com
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/09/13/Australians-house-sold-out-from-under-him/UPI-75191284357054/?pvn=1
5 people like this
15 responses
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
16 Sep 10
I believe it is an inside job where family links are involved. Otherwise how could there be a smooth transaction without the owners knowledge. I think there is still chances of him to seek legal recourse or sue those who has falsified his signature. It is quite scary to think that properties can change hands without prior consent of the owners. Scammers are daylight robberies who are becoming more and more daring.
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
16 Sep 10
It's amazing isn't it? Scary too! It could very well be an 'inside' job as you say because the scammers must have been aware of many details in order to do what they did. There are more and more scams these day, that is true...Thanks so much for stopping by zandi!
1 person likes this
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
16 Sep 10
I heard about this- isn't it outrageous? If these scammers get away with doing this then it is going to tell other scammers that it's ok and this is a great way to make money!
I also heard that the scammers were half way through selling another of his houses. I haven't seen this with my own eyes though. I feel so sorry for this man and surely something can be done about it. Something should be done about it that's for sure.
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
16 Sep 10
I agree, he shouldn't lose his house just like that...Yes, he apparently managed to put a stop to the sale of another property before it went through. Although they claimed he is unlikely to get his home back that is wrong and I hope that it's over turned or as you say it will encourage more fraudsters. Unbelievable isn't it? Thanks for responding coffeeshot!
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
20 Sep 10
Wow,wow,wow!
dang remind me to not take a vacation, I guess I am lucky I don't get out much. I think that they should give his home back because he didn't have nothing to do with it. I also think that the estate agent should be made to pay the people back their money because the agent evidently didn't check out facts to well. I hope that this doesn't start to happen more. It is a shame something like this has to happen like that to good people.
dang remind me to not take a vacation, I guess I am lucky I don't get out much. I think that they should give his home back because he didn't have nothing to do with it. I also think that the estate agent should be made to pay the people back their money because the agent evidently didn't check out facts to well. I hope that this doesn't start to happen more. It is a shame something like this has to happen like that to good people. 1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
21 Sep 10
I almost have the feeling it could have been a little inside job maybe since they did have documents with this guys signature on it and they didn't even try to compare it to the previous ones..something fishy going on..and I hope they find out what..
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Sep 10
I heard on the news headlines today that the owner will be compensated. I don't know the details but I'll watch the news tonight and find out...
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
20 Sep 10
I thought that too. I am kind of glad we can't afford to go on holiday very often! I don't know what is going on with this case now but surely somebody should be liable for this mess and it should not be the home owner or the buyers! I pray that they sort this out fairly and that it is not a new trend of scams, that would be too scary! Thanks mtdewgurl!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Sep 10
Unless this was an inside job surely the settlement and real estate agencies have to held liable for allowing the deal to go through...
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Sep 10
I would have thought that would apply here and I was surprised to read otherwise in the article. I will be very shocked if he doesn't get his property back; surely they can't get away with this! The case is being investigated at present and I look forward to finding out the outcome. Bizarre scam...Thanks Dawn...
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
1 Oct 10
Hi. paula27661. I am very sorry that this has happened. I hope that somehow he can get another home to live in. That is why I never trust anything that has to do with getting emails and faxes. I only trust information from reliable sources. I hope that this person can be caught and put into jail!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
2 Oct 10
I hope they get caught too! Apparently the victims in all this will be compensated. That is the latest news in regards to this. I don't know whether he will get his home back or will be paid out. The buyers are innocent victims in all this too. What next, hey? Thanks for responding cream97, I appreciate it!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
16 Sep 10
That is so wrong! I do not understand how that could happen either? 
I cannot believe that someone could lose their house that way. Surely the real estates must have some sort of system where they check signatures that are on file. If they do not have, then I think it should be placed in law that signatures should be checked where the owner is not present. This is really sad.
It kind of freaks me out that someone could have access to his history that well that they could pass themselves off as him. 
I cannot believe that someone could lose their house that way. Surely the real estates must have some sort of system where they check signatures that are on file. If they do not have, then I think it should be placed in law that signatures should be checked where the owner is not present. This is really sad.
It kind of freaks me out that someone could have access to his history that well that they could pass themselves off as him. @paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Sep 10
Wrong is an understatement! The guy claimed that the signature looked nothing like his and that the settlement agent does have a record of his signature on file. It is unexplainable...It sounds to me as though it is someone who knows a great deal about him...It's a pretty rough situation for this man. It's scary alright, I'm glad that I am not leaving the country for an extended period any time soon! Thanks for being here Bill!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Sep 10
In the article the man said that they faked his signature but it looks nothing like his! The settlement agent involved had the owner's signature on file and for some reason I don't understand they weren't compared (???) It is certainly a bizarre scam, I hope he gets his property back and that the fraudsters are brought to justice. Thanks for the response Gabs!
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
16 Sep 10
This is an incredible story. Unfortunately, I didn't read the full story, but surely he has some form of recourse. Was the sale brokered by an agent, and was a property search done, and if so, by whom? This is a bew scam, and the scammers ned to be found and brought to justice.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Sep 10
I agree. I don't fully understand how on earth they managed to sell someone else's house via faxes and emails! As someone else here has mentioned it may have been an inside job and that sounds feasible. I look forward to finding out if he'll get the house back. Thanks for responding Mike, appreciate it...
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
1 Oct 10
Sounds like some major screwup somewhere along the chain of the sale if someone can have their home sold without their involvement while they were out of the country..It sure sounds like a well thought out Scam,though! Just watch out for the copycats...
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
1 Oct 10
Yes, I hope it's not the start of a series of copycat scams. There will be compensation given here. It has been decided recently so I don't know if the owner will get his house back or receive a settlement. The buyers will be compensated if they have to give the house back too I guess. Thanks for your response ShepherSpy, I may think twice before going on holiday!
@eshaan (6188)
• India
20 Sep 10
something similar was about to happen to me too...we are only sisters...no brother...and our father's house is lying empty as all the sisters are now married and all have to live at some other place with their hubbies...so we have locked the house...the compound wall is low...so one widow woman who lives in neighborhood...tried to capture the house....she built some temporary construction in the compound wall..but it was the goodness of some other neighbours that they rang us and let us know the condition...if we were not informed in time...she was in full preparation to annex the house...
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Sep 10
My goodness, just as well you caught her out before she accomplished what she set out to do! It's incredible what some people are prepared to get away with! Thankfully you put a stop to it...I heard today on the news headlines that the home owner will be compensated, I don't know the details yet but I will watch the news tonight to find out. Thanks for responding eshaan...
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
16 Sep 10
GOOD GRIEF, that is awful. There are really some wheeler dealers out there. I hope they catch who did this & he's able to get it all straightened out. Must have been a really nice house to bring that sort of money.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Sep 10
That is the average price of a house here in Perth which is pretty tough for first home buyers. Every day we hear of a different scam and this one is certainly a first, they attempted to sell another one of his properties which he managed to put a stop to. Incredible! Thanks for the response ANTIQUELADY!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Sep 10
I know...It's an appalling fraud! Scammers like these can destroy someone's life and they should be given a hefty jail term similar to murder. I don't know the details and the whole thing sounds incredible to me but it happened to the poor man. I saw him on the news and the case is being investigated. I hope he gets his house back...Thanks Jen, appreciate the response...
@millertime (1394)
• United States
19 Sep 10
What a crazy thing to happen! I don't understand how the scammers were able to accomplish the sale of the house without having to prove ownership. I think there must be a lot more to this story than what is on the surface. I don't think the real owner will lose his house though. Even though the people that bought it supposedly did the deal in good faith, the fact is that THEY were the ones that were scammed out of their money. The property couldn't legally be transferred without the actual owner conveying title, which he obviously didn't do, so he's still the legal owner. I sure hope they can catch the scammers and get the money back. They may have to pursue it through diplomatic channels since it's in another country though. What a mess.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
19 Sep 10
Yes it is a mess...I feel sorry for this man, it sounds as though it was someone who knows him and his affairs somehow...I hope these scammers will be caught. It is too bad for the buyers too because they are innocent victims in all this. It's a bizarre incident...Thanks for responding miller time, I appreciate it.
@twobits (31)
• United States
21 Sep 10
Here most sales require the use of title insurance. This seems like a case that they would have to pay out to the buyers of the house. It seems outragoues that his house can be sold without him signing anything, or getting the money for it. Here also, buying of stolen property is illegal, even if you don't know it is stolen. It would get taken back from you and give back to the rightful owner. I would think Australia would have much the same legal systems both being based on English common law?
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Sep 10
I was under the impression that the buyers would have bought a stolen property and therefore broken the law but this case did leave me confused. I did hear on the news headlines about half an hour ago that a decision has been made to compensate the home owner. I don't know if he will get the house back but I will watch the full news this evening and find out. Thanks for adding to my discussion twobits. I appreciate it!
@BarBaraPrz (45484)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Sep 10
Verrry clever, these crooks.
Some scammers will take out a mortgage on someone else's house, too.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Sep 10
Can you imagine coming back, your house being sold and a mortgage to pay you didn't take out? Surely that could never happen...But then I never thought I would hear of someone losing their house while out of the country! Thanks for responding BarBara!
1 person likes this
