Fresno Cops Foil Fake Landlord Rent Scam; Charge Suspect With Renting Vacant Homes In Foreclosure Belonging To Others

In Fresno, California, The Fresno Bee reports:

• An elaborate scam taking advantage of the mortgage crisis unraveled, authorities say, when Kristen Ables found another family living in her Fresno house. "It was a mixture of disbelief and anger" that she felt on learning that she had been victimized, Ables said Wednesday as Fresno police announced the arrest of Sam Haley, 66.

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• Police allege that Haley, who they said lost his real estate license in 1979 because of fraudulent business practices, carried out the scam at least 13 times -- and was likely to keep doing it if the unexpected visit by Ables hadn't uncovered the scheme.

• Fresno police detective Donnie Dinnell uncovered evidence at Haley's home and business, Capital Investments Inc., that indicated he had people lined up to rent 19 other houses, police Chief Jerry Dyer said. Dinnell also found evidence that Haley had identified up to 126 other homes that he could possibly use in the scheme, Dyer said.

Reportedly, the cops said that Haley pocketed $26,000 over the seven months he allegedly ran the scam and faces felony theft charges.

For more, see Fresno housing scam uncovered (Police say man rented homes to victims who didn't know he was not the owner).

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