In Osceola County, Florida,
WFTV-TV Channel 9 reports:
- Some Osceola County residents said they’re unsure about what to do after they found out the company they rented from doesn’t own the homes they were living in.
Three suspects are being held in Osceola County Jail after investigators said they made thousands of dollars off the scam.
Encio Encev, Michael Frederiksen and Eric Rabicoff lived in a home in Poinciana, but the real owner lived in Georgia and had no idea the three had legally taken over his property and moved in.
“We've identified eight homes that these companies did these quit claim deeds with, but there could be additional homes out there under different names,” Twis Lizasuain of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said.
Osceola County detectives said Encev, Frederiksen and Rabicoff used a company called Eur-invest to steal the homes. They forged a notary’s signature, filed a quit claim deed at the courthouse and showed the property to renters.
The tenants said they gave a woman named Jennifer thousands of dollars in cash to move into the four-bedroom home. “She had no knowledge that the home she was renting was from criminals who didn't even own the property," Lizasuain said. The tenants said they don’t know where to go or if they can get their money back.
Officials said the home will eventually be returned to the original owner without much hassle.
Deputies said they could file more charges against the three suspects and there may be more arrests made.
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