Welcome to The Home Equity Theft Reporter, a blog dedicated to informing the consumer public and the legal profession about Home Equity Theft issues. This blog will consist of information describing the various forms of Home Equity Theft and links to news reports & other informational sources from throughout the country about the victims of Home Equity Theft and what government authorities and others are doing about it.
Saturday, July 07, 2012
SW Florida Cops Focus Heat On Scams Using Vacant F'closures To Peddle Bogus Rentals To Unwitting Tenants; Tips Sought From Public In Crackdown Effort
In Collier Coumty, Florida, WINK News reports:
Collier County Sheriff's Office's Organized Crime Bureau is investigating a rental scam ring, focusing on foreclosures. 21-year-old Yoandry Leiva was first arrested in April for allegedly breaking into a foreclosure, and renting it out to an unsuspecting tenant. Now, detectives say they've connected him to over a dozen more fraudulent rentals.
Collier County detectives say Leiva acted as a middle-man to link tenants to foreclosed properties. He's accused of breaking into abandoned homes and listing himself as the landlord.
"They were posting ads advertising homes for rent. When unsuspecting people called, thinking it was a legitimate ad, he would meet with these people," CCSO Detective David Spahl said Wednesday.
Detectives say Emanoel Thermitus was one of Leiva's first victims. WINK News spoke to her in April, after deputies evicted the single-mom one week after she moved in. She was out thousands of dollars and left homeless. "It's a lot of money for me because I'm by myself and I've been by myself forever," Thermitus said back in April.
Now, detectives say they've located more fraudulently-rented out foreclosures, linked back to Leiva. The majority of the properties are in East Naples. Tammy Daffron had no idea her home was being rented out. "I think he's trying to make money, just like we all are. Unfortunately, he's not doing it the right way, like 99% of us do," Daffron said Wednesday.
Detectives suspect Leiva likely worked in a ring. They're now alerting anyone with a foreclosure to keep a protective eye on the property. "I don't think this is the only group that's doing it. We don't have direct evidence at this point but it would be reasonable to believe that this isn't the only person doing it," Spahl said.
CCSO is still investigating the crime and looking for more leads on fraudulently rented out foreclosures. If you have any information, you're asked to call Collier County Sheriff's Office at 239-774-4434. You can also leave an anonymous tip with Southwest Florida CrimeStoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
CBC News: Betrayal of Trust (A CBC investigation reveals how lawyers across Canada have misappropriated and mishandled clients money, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, or sometimes even charging vulnerable people top dollar for shoddy services)
Land Contract/Contract For Deed/Rent-To-Own Rackets
The New York Times: The Housing Trap (In the wake of the housing crisis, low-income families have turned to seller financing to buy homes but these deals can be a money trap)
Beware The Fine Print: Consumers Forced To Sign Away Their Rights To Use Court System
The NY Times: Arbitration Everywhere, Stacking the Deck of Justice(Part 1 in series examining how clauses buried in tens of millions of contracts have deprived Americans of one of their most fundamental constitutional rights: their day in court)
Foreclosure Mills' Abysmal Record In Complying With New NYS Foreclosure Requirements
Justice Deceived: How Large Foreclosure Firms Subvert State Regulations Protecting Homeowners
MFY Legal Services Report On Questionable Practices By Process Servers In Debt Collection Cases
Justice Disserved: A Preliminary Analysis of the Exceptionally
Low Appearance Rate by Defendants in Lawsuits Filed in the Civil Court of the City of New York
Mortgage Mess Redux: Robo-Signers Return (A Reuters investigation finds that many banks are still employing the controversial foreclosure practices that sparked a major outcry last year)
CNN Video: As Foreclosures Mount, Florida Court Turns To 'Rocket Docket'
The Wall Street Journal: A Florida Court's 'Rocket Docket' Blasts Through Foreclosure Cases (2 Questions, 15 Seconds, 45 Days to Get Out; 'What's to Talk About?' Says a Judge)
"Produce The Note" Strategy When Dealing With Missing Promissory Notes In Foreclosure Actions
ABC Video: Fighting Against Foreclosure (Some homeowners have found a new tactic to keep the banks at bay)
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