The Inland Empire Crime Blog

On Wednesday, June 10th, 2009, at approximately 2:04 pm, Deputy Erik Stoll responded to an incident at a home in the 13000 block of 3rd Ave., in the City of Victorville. When Deputy Stoll arrived he learned that the home had been foreclosed on by the bank and the realtor was sent out to prepare it for sale. When the realtor arrived she found people living in the home. The persons in the home professed they had rented the house and were there legally.

Through investigation Deputy Stoll learned that the persons living in the home had responded to an ad for a rental house back in May and paid the suspect a deposit and the first months rent in cash. When the suspect met with them at the home, he had keys to the residence and a rental agreement for them to sign. The rental agreement was likely purchased at a stationary store. It didn’t have any business logos and imprints representing him or a business. Deputy Stoll also learned that Deputy Joe McLaughlin took a similar report at a home in the 14000 block of Honey Hill, in the City of Victorville. The victims of both locations gave similar descriptions of the suspect and the circumstances. Even though the victim that intended to enter into a legal contract to rent that home, they have no right to be on the premises and the bank that owns the home may end up serving a 30 day eviction on the victims.

This is only one version of the real estate/rental fraud scams law enforcement has been seeing. Deputies and Detectives of the Victorville Police Station have also responded to reports of home owners that seek out the aid of the businesses claiming they can save the homeowner from foreclosure. The homeowner is often out of options to make their mortgage payment due to loss of job or a variety of other unfortunate situations. The suspect tells the homeowner they must move out and pay them a percentage of what the mortgage payment would be. The suspect then rents the location for an amount that will supplement the homeowner’s amount, plus an additional amount to the suspect as a fee to do so. There are businesses that do legally assist homeowners with a similar set up. However, the fraudulent ones set all of the payment factors in place, get a renter in the location and then never pay the mortgage company the payment amount. The renter ends up getting evicted by the bank when it forecloses and the homeowner loses his home.

These crimes, much like identity theft or credit fraud, the victim doesn’t know he’s been victimized until a while after the crime occurred. This often allows the suspect to be long gone or difficult for law enforcement to trace. There are some actions renters and homeowners can do to protect themselves from such scams. If you’re going to rent a property you can check with any title company to see if it’s owned by the bank or the homeowner. This is also useful in protecting you from homes that are in foreclosure and the homeowner rents them out to get cash before the bank takes over and then the bank ultimately evicts the tenant. You can also check with the tax assessors’ office to verify the home is not bank owned.

If you’re considering working with an agency to keep your home out of foreclosure, make sure you start by checking with your bank to see if your mortgage allows you to enter into such an arrangement to begin with. Then follow up by making sure the person or agency you’ve employed to assist you is actually making the mortgage payment by calling your mortgage company on a regular basis. Potential renters can also check with the electric or water company before renting. If the home is owned by a bank, those utilities will be in their name. Lastly, most reputable businesses or homeowners will accept a cashier’s check for payment in lieu of cash. Generally speaking if something seems too good to be true, it usually is, renters beware.

If you have been a victim of a real estate fraud please contact your local law enforcement. San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has a specialized unit that deals specifically with these kinds of crimes. Real estate fraud is not new, but criminals are finding new ways to use it to their benefit and victimize the good citizens of Victorville.

Refer: Karen Hunt, Media Relations
Station: Victorville Police Department
Phone No. 760-241-1841

ROD HOOPS, SHERIFF
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF-CORONER DEPARTMENT
c/o Public Affairs Division
655 East Third Street
San Bernardino, California 92415-0061
Telephone:  (909) 387-3700

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
Current Press Release
RENTAL FRAUD  –6/11/2009
13000 BLOCK OF 3RD AVE  ,  Victorville
VICTIM:
SUSPECT:        UNKNOWN BLACK MALE