 SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- The recent home foreclosure crisis has brought back a familiar scam to the housing market, leaving renters homeless and broke.
Once popular in the 1970s, tenants are conned into renting an apartment from a fraudlent landlord, only to discover later that the "landlord" doesn't even own the building.
”An unscrupulous party that begins to realize there is a tremendous number of vacant properties will scope out 3 or 4 vacant properties,” said Vallejo real estate agent Brian McPhearson who has personally dealt with victims of the scam.
McPhearson says the scam artists gain access to the homes by breaking in, changing the locks, and put it on the market for rent.
McPhearson contends the best way to find out if a landlord is legitimate is to check the rental agency’s license with the California Department of Real Estate, or confirm the property owner’s name at the county recorder’s office.
(pbo/clo) |
