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  Geebo 9:00 am on November 7, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: craigslist ( 124 ), real estate, rental scam ( 85 ), Scams ( 1,239 ), squatters ( 2 )   

  Family locked out of own home in rental scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  A family from Fresno, California, moved to Tennessee earlier this year. While they were living in Tennessee, they were trying to sell their house in California. Even in our always connected world, that must be difficult to do from two time zones away. That’s also what made it easy for scammers to take advantage of an empty home whose owners were thousands of miles away.

  People moved into the California house just a few months after the family moved to Tennessee. The family still has relatives in the Fresno-area who sent pictures of a U-Haul in the driveway, and the for sale sign had been removed. The relatives were provided the access code to one of the electronic locks, but when they got to the house, the keypad had been removed. To make matters worse, all the locks had been changed as well.

  Police were called to the house, but the people who moved in showed police a rental lease agreement. They also claimed that they found the property listed on craigslist, and paid $3000 in cash to move in. The police were unable to do anything at the time.

  The family contacted a local news station in Fresno who looked into the lease agreement and the signature on the lease didn’t match the signature on the home’s deed. This allowed the news station to contact police, who were then able to have the people vacate the house in 48 hours. But the problems didn’t end there.

  The first thing the family had to deal with was the belongings the people left behind. Under California law, the family had to keep the items for two weeks, then they had to pay to have the items taken away. The house had also been vandalized when the people living there allegedly broke the appliances and plumbing. Unfortunately, their homeowner’s insurance wouldn’t cover the damages because the hose had been left vacant for than 60 days.

  If you’re moving to a new area while still trying to sell your home, don’t rely on the realtor to keep the home safe. We’ve seen too many instances where scammers have fooled realtors into giving them access to the home. Instead, consider investing in a security solution where you can monitor the home remotely. While it might be an additional cost, it can prevent you from having to pay even more in the long run.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on October 27, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: florida ( 30 ), open house, real estate, rental scam ( 85 ), Scams ( 1,239 )   

  Displaced family fall victim to rental scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  A Florid family of three recently moved out of the mobile home they were living in. They needed a larger living space due to medical concerns. They were driving through Jacksonville when they came upon an open house for a home that was for rent. There were other potential renters touring the home, while the event was hosted by a man who appeared to be from a realty agency. That man was professionally dressed while wearing a badge with his name and picture that carried a local realtor’s logo. He was also said to be handing out rental applications.

  The family filled one out, and two weeks later the man visited them at their mobile home. The family was told their application was approved, and they paid a $2300 deposit. The man even had a card reader with him, so he could take the payment from their debit card immediately. They were even given a key to the home. After they moved in, they used their remaining savings to have the power turned on.

  Three weeks later, the family’s nightmare began. A security guard who worked for the realtor told the family they had been scammed and had 72 hours to move out. They couldn’t even go back to the mobile home they were living in previously because it had been damaged by Hurricane Ian. They’re currently having trouble finding a home due to a previous eviction.

  Just about anybody who walked into this situation could have been scammed. The scammer went to extreme lengths to scam families looking for a home. First, the scammer probably toured the home himself through the realtor, which gave him access to the realtor’s lockbox that holds the key to the home. Many realtors do not change the combinations on their lock boxes after a family tours a home.

  Then he held his own open house for the property while posing as one of the realtors. There’s a reason why the ‘con’ in con artist is short for ‘confidence’. Who knows how many other victims this person has allegedly scammed using the same tricks?

  According to local realtors, if you meet a real estate agent away from their office, get their business address and verify they work for the realtor they claim to work for.

  https://youtu.be/Mi30CdH-U0s

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on October 13, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: car wrapping ( 10 ), check scam ( 76 ), debt collectors ( 9 ), fake check ( 43 ), job scam ( 71 ), law firm, real estate, Scams ( 1,239 )   

  Scam Round Up: Phony Law Firm Scam and more 

  

  By Greg Collier

  This week, in the Scam Round Up, we’ll be reminding our readers of an old scam, a new twist on a familiar scam, and a new and potentially terrifying scam.

  ***

  Lots of scams are designed to swindle people who are looking to make a supplemental income. One of those scams is the car wrap scam. This is where scammers promise to pay you for putting advertising decals on your car and just driving around town. While there are legitimate opportunities to do this, they aren’t as frequent as the scammers would have you believe. They’ll also go to great lengths to try to convince you that they’re the legitimate offer.

  For example, an Arkansas man received what appeared to be a legitimate car wrap offer in the mail. The offer appeared professional in nature, but the closer the man looked, the more he realized it was a scam.

  The offer included a check for $3700. $100 of it was for gas, $600 was supposed to be the man’s payment, and the remaining $3000 was supposed to go to the company that would wrap his car. Except, he was supposed to deposit the check and then pay the company through Venmo or Cash App.

  Thankfully, the man waited before sending any of the money. He waited for his bank to let him know whether the check was legitimate or not, and it turned out to be fraudulent. Just by waiting, he saved himself from being thousands of dollars in debt to his bank.

  ***

  Speaking of fake check scams, one seems to be hitting the real estate market hard. Scammers are sending fraudulent cashier’s checks to realtors and title companies, posing as someone who is interested in buying a house. Once the check is deposited, the scammers claim they’ve changed their mind about the home and want their money back. Now, most knowledgeable realtors won’t move forward with any transaction until the check clears.

  While most realtors wouldn’t fall for this scam, it’s still tying up properties while realtors wait to see if the check is real. Taking a property off the market and putting it back on can not only hurt the home’s value, but it also keeps it out of the hands of people needing to find a home.

  ***

  Lastly, we have a story about a man who received a cal from a law firm trying to collect a debt. The law firm said that he had defaulted on a loan from 2016. The caller said they needed to send someone to his home to receive his signature. The scammers even knew a lot of information about their target, including his Social Security number, and the names of his family members.

  They said he owed $9000 but would be willing to take an immediate payment of $4000. The man was taken aback at first, but once he gathered his composure, he realized this was a scam. After the man hung up on the scammers, the scammers called the man’s adult son to try to intimidate the man further.

  If you receive a call from someone trying to collect a debt, ask them to mail you a debt verification letter that will detail where the debt supposedly came from. If they know way too much information about you than they should, consider putting fraud alerts on all your financial accounts.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 15, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Atlanta ( 4 ), real estate, Scams ( 1,239 ), Zelle ( 62 ), zillow ( 14 )   

  Million dollar home lists for $22K 

  

  By Greg Collier

  The online real estate market has been rife with scams and fraud almost since the beginning. It almost seems like you can’t post an online real estate listing without someone copying it. This is what usually leads to the numerous rental scams out there. However, it’s not just rental scams you have to worry about, but there are scams when trying to buy a home too. Except, the scam we’re about to discuss today had so many red flags it could have been part of the Soviet Navy.

  A local realtor in Atlanta found a peculiar listing on Zillow. The home was in an affluent Atlanta neighborhood and was estimated to be worth at least a million dollars. However, the Zillow listing claimed the house was for sale at the low, low price of $22,000. The supposed owner of the house claimed the price was so cheap because they owned a number of properties and this would be a tax write-off for them.

  If those weren’t enough warnings, this listing could be a scam, it also came with plenty of strings attached. The listing specified that this was for first time buyers only, who didn’t have any representation. The listing also stated that the price was non-negotiable and approved applicants would pay a $2,000 payment through Zelle.

  No matter how bad the real estate market may be, no one is going to sell a million dollar home for .02% of its value. The scammer was obviously looking for homebuyers with no experience in the market, so they easily could be taken advantage of. If a listing specifies that you should have no representation, you should assume it’s a scam.

  Lastly, the fact that the listing is asking for payment through Zelle should be a dead giveaway that it’s a scam. As we’ve said previously, Zelle should only be used to pay people you know personally and not to random strangers on the internet.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 30, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Cash App ( 41 ), craigslist ( 124 ), real estate, rental scam ( 85 ), Scams ( 1,239 )   

  A desperate plea for help leads to family getting scammed 

  

  By Greg Collier

  There should be no shame in reaching out to your neighbors for help. Today, if we do decide to reach out, we often do it online. Not only out of convenience, but because it helps us reach a wider range of people who could potentially help us. Unfortunately, it’s not just our neighbors who might see our pleas, there are also scammers, as one Virginia family found out.

  In this story, the family consists of a disabled mother with an adult daughter who is pregnant. They were looking for a home to rent and due to the mother’s disabilities, they were limited in their choices. They could not rent any property that required the mother to go up or down stairs. The mother posted her plea online that they were looking for a place to rent. This plea was posted to her area’s Craigslist.

  After she made her post, someone reached out almost immediately. They said that they had a property they were looking to rent out to someone and even gave them an address, so they could drive by the home. When the daughter spoke to the supposed landlord, he said that he needed money right away to have the city turn the water and plumbing right away.

  The landlord asked for $700 to be paid through Cash App under somebody else’s name. The daughter even said that didn’t feel right, as the money should go into a bank account. However, they were so desperate to find a roof over their heads, they ignored the red flags and sent the money anyway. Sadly, they sent their money to a scammer. They are now trying even harder to find a home, along with the financial burden of losing that money.

  I know it’s easier said than done, but even if you’re in dire straits, please do your research before sending any money to rent a home. Scammers are constantly looking for people on the down and out to take advantage of because they know the victim’s emotional state may make them vulnerable. The scammers have no qualms taking from people who have very little.

  As long as you have a working smartphone, which is most phones these days, you can research the property. If you do a quick Google search on the property’s address, you can find a lot of information about the property. That can include the actual rent price and the actual rental agency. And as always, we recommend going to the website or office of the county tax assessor, as they will have the records of who actually owns and rents the property.

  Also, never send money through apps like Cash App, Venmo, Zelle and the like. This makes it incredibly easy for scammers to take your money before blocking you and disappearing with your money.

  Lastly, scammers will always try to pressure you into making a decision right away. If you feel pressured, don’t be afraid to take your time researching and deciding. You may just save yourself the heartache of losing money to a scammer.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 15, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: movers ( 8 ), moving ( 6 ), moving company scam ( 2 ), real estate, Scams ( 1,239 )   

  Moving company scam holds belongings hostage 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Congratulations. You happen to be one of the lucky few who just bought or rented a new home. You avoided all the scams, and you’ve gotten all the money and paperwork in order. The hard part is over. Now you just have to move your belongings into your new home. That should be easy, right? You just need to call a few moving companies, get a few quotes, take the cheapest one, and you’re home free. But what happens when the movers ask for more money than they quoted? They’ve already got your stuff loaded on their truck. If you don’t pay then and there, they drive off with your belongings. Can they do that? The answer to that questions is no, but it happens anyway.

  A man in Natchez, Mississippi, recently found this out when he wanted some of his belongings moved to a storage facility. He was given a quote of $900, but when the movers showed up and loaded his stuff, they then asked for $2600. The movers allegedly added travel time to their per hour charges. The Natchez man did not have that kind of money, so the movers drove off with his possessions. They told him he can get them back when he pays the full amount. The matter was initially a matter for a civil court, since the man signed a contract that included extra cost for the travel time. However, after the matter was referred to the state Attorney General’s office, the moving company’s owner and another employee have since been arrested and charged with embezzlement. At the time of their arrest, police allegedly found the property of other victims as well in the moving company’s possession.

  Picking the right mover is almost as important as picking the home itself. If you find a reasonably priced moving company, do an online search for reviews and complaints. You can also check the mover’s license number with the Department of Transportation to see their complaint history. If they’re not registered with the DOT, the movers could be a fly-by-night operation or worse.

  If a company gives you an estimate without physically inspecting your belongings, they might be trying to scam you. You should always get at least three estimates from three different movers and get the estimates in writing. You should also never pay in full up front. Lastly, if anything feels out of the ordinary with your movers, don’t be afraid to go with another company.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 11, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: California ( 20 ), Orange County, real estate, rental scam ( 85 ), Scams ( 1,239 ), Zelle ( 62 ), zillow ( 14 )   

  Knock on the door saves family from rental scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  We would say that it seems to be the week for rental scams, but unfortunately, they’re an everyday threat to prospective renters. It’s not just renters, either. Homeowners and current tenants are often left having to tell victims of rental scams that the property is not for rent. Meanwhile, the victims are left desperately scrambling to find a place to live after having lost thousands of dollars to scammers.

  The rental scam can take many forms, but at its simplest, scammers copy real estate listings then post a copy somewhere online that the home is for rent. Except, the scammers list themselves as the landlord and collect security or rental deposits before ghosting their victims.

  A couple from Orange County, California, almost feel victim to a rental scam, but decided to investigate when something didn’t feel right. The home they found was listed for rent on Facebook Marketplace. The supposed landlord only communicated by text. They were also asked to pay a $2000 deposit through personal payment app Zelle and were pressured to pay quickly since others were interested in the rental. The couple was also told not to go to the property because it was currently occupied, although the tenants would be out by the end of the week.

  The home was occupied alright, but not by renters, the family that was living there had bought the home, and it was not for rent. The couple interested in the home decided to go to the home anyway, sensing something was fishy. The couple knocked on the door and spoke with the family living there, who told them the home was not for rent. It turned out the scammers had copied the Zillow listing that the family saw when they bought the home.

  The couple was lucky enough to notice the red flags before losing any money. Unfortunately, not all families are this lucky and end up losing what little money they might have. If a landlord only communicates by text, it could mean they’re not in the area and are just interested in taking your money. If they ask for payment through personal payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App, that’s another good indicator of a potential scam as scammers can block victims on these apps once they receive payment. And if a landlord tells you not to approach the property, there’s a good chance they’re trying to hide something from you.

  As always, due diligence should be done before putting money down on a rental property. A quick Google search of the address can reveal duplicate listings. If the listing you’re looking at has a lower rent price, that’s more than likely the scam listing. If a listing says the house is for sale or off the market, but your listing says it’s for rent, your listing is probably the scam listing.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 9, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: California ( 20 ), real estate, rental scam ( 85 ), sacramento ( 3 ), Scams ( 1,239 ), zillow ( 14 )   

  Rental scam listing stays on Zillow for a week 

  

  By Greg Collier

  When looking for a rental property, we recommend using platforms like Zillow to help determine whether a rental listing is a scam or not. Platforms like Zillow can often give you a good idea of not only what market prices for rent are in a certain area, but they can also often tell you who is really renting the property. But what happens when the information on Zillow is wrong? One California landlady recently found out.

  The landlady from Sacramento listed her home for rent on Zillow. However, a rental scammer is said to have duplicated the ad on Zillow as well. The scam was discovered when a prospective renter showed up at the woman’s home looking to take a tour. Except, the landlady had never spoken to the person who showed up at her door.

  Not only had scammers copied the original listing, but they also listed the landlady’s name while asking for $1200 deposits.

  The fake listing stayed up on Zillow for a week after the landlady contacted them. It stayed up so long because the scammer kept arguing with Zillow that they were the legitimate landlord. That could mean that the scammer was collecting $1200 from victims all the while. The landlady is concerned that victims who may have been scammed may come after her, since the scammers used her name.

  While platforms like Zillow and Truila are good tools to use in a search for a rental property, they are not the final authority. They can have scammers like any other platform. Even if a landlord gives you a tour of the property or gives you a code to the property’s lockbox, that doesn’t necessarily make them the true landlord. The best way to find out who actually owns a property is to always check with the county’s tax office or website.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 8, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: military ( 11 ), real estate, rental scam ( 85 ), Scams ( 1,239 )   

  Military family fall victim to rental scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  U.S. service members are one of the most targeted groups when it comes to scams. They are frequently victims of identity theft, romance scams, and employment scams. Again, this shows that scammers have absolutely no conscience when it comes to finding targets. Our service members have dedicated their lives to protecting our country, but scammers only think of them as a source of loot. Even when service members are looking for housing for themselves and their families, the scammers are lurking.

  A member of the Naval Reserves was recently looking for a home to rent in the Denver, Colorado area. He used a platform designed specifically to help service members find housing near their respective bases. It should be noted that the platform in question is not run by the military itself.

  The service member was able to find a rental to his liking and paid a $2700 deposit. However, the day before he was supposed to move in, the supposed landlord cut off all communication with the service member. Like with most rental scams, the home was actually for sale and not for rent.

  Typically, in rental scams, the scammers will copy the listing of a home for sale. They’ll then repost the listing somewhere else online, claiming the property is for rent, and that the scammer is the owner. The fake listings often list the property at a lower rent than the market value to try to find desperate victims. Scammers will ask victims for security deposits and first month’s rent before disappearing on the victims.

  Rental scams do not discriminate and have taken money from victims in every education and socioeconomic level. Of course, this scam hits lower-income families harder, as they can’t afford the loss of thousands of dollars.

  If you find a rental listing that appears to be a great deal, do as much research as you can on the property. Even a quick Google search of the address can show you information about the actual listing of the property. But when in doubt, contact the county tax assessor’s office or website. They’ll be able to tell you who the actual owner of the home is.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on July 19, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Airbnb ( 13 ), real estate, rental scam ( 85 ), Scams ( 1,239 ), short-term rental ( 5 )   

  Airbnb scam sends strangers to your door 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Typically, in any kind of rental scam, the scammers will copy a legitimate real estate listing before posting their scam copy online. If the home is actually for sale, scammers will list it as being for rent. They’ll do this in order to collect deposits and rent from unsuspecting victims. But, what can you do if the home you live in and own is being used in a rental scam? One woman from Detroit recently found out.

  The woman owns her own home in the Motor City, but recently, strangers started showing up at her door looking for a way in. The first time this happened, she asked the people on her porch what they were doing there through her home security camera. The people said they had rented the property off short-term rental platform Airbnb.

  This has happened to the woman multiple times, with disappointed vacationers showing up to her home, only to be told the property isn’t for rent. As we said, typically scammers use properties that have been listed online before. According to the homeowner, this property has never been listed. So, it seems like scammers may be picking homes either at random or by location to list on Airbnb.

  However, this scam does not seem very practical in terms of profit for the scammer. Airbnb processes the payments between renter and host. So, if a scam like this is detected, Airbnb can reverse the payment. They’ve even said that in this particular instance, the scammer did not get paid. It’s entirely possible that this could have been a scammer testing the Airbnb process for possible vulnerabilities.

  This doesn’t change the fact that people expecting to rent a vacation spot had to be turned away from someone’s home. It only takes one person who refuses to believe they’ve been scammed to turn this into a volatile situation.

  If people show up at your home thinking they’ve scored a vacation rental, contact the platform, in this case Airbnb, immediately to have the listing removed. If you’re a person looking for a short-term rental on platforms like Airbnb, research the host before committing. Phony hosts will often use images stolen off the internet in their profiles. A reverse image search goes a long way in weeding out scam hosts.