Squatters

[fatjay]

What squatters? They were dead when I got here.

Squatters made up a pretty name for themselves. They are not squatters, they are home invaders. They have invaded your home. Your sanctuary.

There is no excuse to tolerate any form of home invasion.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

DeSantis is fantastic. He has gone after squatters pretty well.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Alls well that ended well.
After reading your post, I would have brought the deed to the house and property to prove ownership in case I needed the sheriff.
Maybe bringing the sheriff with you so the squatters could have been prosecuted?
Depending on the state I would have come armed.

All property deeds are a click away, at least in Washington State. All online.

 

[ultrarunner]

That's how it should be, but it has become sophisticated. People sometimes think they have a valid contract. Imagine your 2nd place is 'rented' by someone claiming to be you. The squatters have a 'lease'. Or the squatters just invent that scenario for legal cover. Like Ultra said, LEOs treat it as a civil matter and stay out of it.

Some states are tightening their laws to prevent this stuff.

A good friend bough a condo in Vegas… they like to go to shows and have family in the area…

One month they open their utility bill and see a spike and wonder what’s going on.

They arrive and find a young family in the unit all settled in… they we’re in shock when my friend said he is the owner.

Cutting to the chase the renters were verified innocent. They responded to an ad, had the ad and paid for credit check and proof of rent and deposit payment…

Produced a rental agreement and the police said it would not be the first time.

My friend actually let them stay and they have been excellent… making the best of a bad situation with 2 victims.

The criminals long gone with rent and 2 month security and credit check money.

Home spotless, husband works and wife stay at home with newborn…

They offered to leave but said they would be pressed to afford a repeat all the costs just paid.

 

[1 Old Man]

I have no tolerance for a thief (and a squatter is a thief).
Ultrarunner - your friend did a nice thing letting those young
folks stay. They tried to do the right thing. Had proof. He was
gracious and let them stay. No telling how much the couple
appreciated his understanding.

 

[Jstpssng]

I have no tolerance for a thief (and a squatter is a thief).
Ultrarunner - your friend did a nice thing letting those young
folks stay. They tried to do the right thing. Had proof. He was
gracious and let them stay. No telling how much the couple
appreciated his understanding.

They were as much a victim as him.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Yes that's certainly not squatting but fraud, and something becoming more common.

It's quite unnerving.

 

[Torvy]

Yes that's certainly not squatting but fraud, and something becoming more common.

It's quite unnerving.

Unfortunately for the property owners, many areas treat this as squatting. That means court and eviction processes. If the squatters are victims, they are usually SOL.

The tricky part is that you rarely know if the squatter is really a victim of fraud or if they produced the documents to cover their own theft.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Unfortunately for the property owners, many areas treat this as squatting. That means court and eviction processes. If the squatters are victims, they are usually SOL.

The tricky part is that you rarely know if the squatter is really a victim of fraud or if they produced the documents to cover their own theft.

Yeah, I supposed a semi-sophisticated and savagely devious fraudster could easily fake this type of scenario. Have the paperwork ready for when the property owner gets there. The only thing is that most humans are not as nice as this friend and would probably kick them out anyways. But maybe using this con as a cover would make it harder to kick them out. And soften or eliminate the legal repercussions of squatting.

 

[Torvy]

Yeah, I supposed a semi-sophisticated and savagely devious fraudster could easily fake this type of scenario. Have the paperwork ready for when the property owner gets there. The only thing is that most humans are not as nice as this friend and would probably kick them out anyways. But maybe using this con as a cover would make it harder to kick them out. And soften or eliminate the legal repercussions of squatting.

I've read news articles that this has happened.

Agreed, few are willing to take the risk his friend took.

Unfortunately, the cops ignore this stuff as civil in many cases. When they do open a case, they rarely catch the perps.

Scammers are using real apartments and genuine agents' identities to con would-be renters

Fraudsters are using real apartment listings and stolen agents’ identities on social media to scam prospective renters into paying fake fees.

www.nbcnews.com

House Squatting: 10 Ways You Can Unknowingly Become A Victim

Think squatting only happens in abandoned houses? Think again! Here are surprising ways you could become a victim of house squatting.

www.everybodylovesyourmoney.com