An Ohio woman is a victim of a scam where a person poses as a disability services representative who promised to help her "secure a new home." Instead, she loses her current home.
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| Debra Huber; credit: WTVG Toledo |
Debra Huber is the latest victim of a scam where a person is posing as a disability services representative. She lost everything and shared her plight with WTVG News 13.
Ohio Woman Loses Home After Falling Victim to $12,000 Scam
A Toledo, Ohio, woman is facing the devastating consequences of a scam that cost her $12,000 in savings and ultimately contributed to the loss of her home.
Deborah Huber, who is deaf and disabled, said she was contacted through Facebook earlier this year by someone claiming to represent the Deaf Services Center, an organization that assists people who are deaf or hard of hearing. According to Huber, the person offered to help her and her adult son move into a new, fully furnished home.
Believing the offer was legitimate, Huber sent the individual $12,000. She later discovered that the person was not who they claimed to be. She was later removed from her home in an unfortunate turn of events.
The incident is now being investigated by the Toledo Police Department.
A Promise of a New Home Turns Into a Nightmare
The scam reportedly centered on an offer that appeared to provide Huber and her son with a fresh start.
Huber said she believed the money would help secure a house and furniture. Instead, the promised assistance never materialized, leaving her without the savings she depended on.
The financial loss had consequences beyond the $12,000 itself. Once Huber realized she had been deceived, she no longer had enough money to keep up with rent and utility payments at her existing home.
“I lost everything. I lost the house because of the scam,” Huber said, according to ABC 13.
Her eviction was carried out on August 13 under the oversight of Toledo Municipal Court.
Eviction Leaves Family Without Stable Housing
The circumstances surrounding the eviction highlight how quickly financial scams can become much larger personal crises.
On the day she was removed from the home, Huber was reportedly seen outside with her belongings in a shopping cart. She was also holding one of her five dogs, a service animal.
The Toledo Humane Society helped place Huber's other four dogs. Huber and the remaining dog are currently staying with a family friend, while her son, Chris, obtained temporary shelter through the Lucas County Board.
A family friend, Stephanie Coates, explained that the family lives month to month, making the loss of their savings especially devastating.
Finding another permanent home has therefore become a major challenge.
Police Warn About Unsolicited Offers
The Toledo Police Department confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing. However, authorities also warned that recovering money lost through scams can be extremely difficult.
Police are urging people to be especially careful when they receive unsolicited offers, particularly when the person making the offer claims to represent a trusted organization.
One of the most important precautions is independent verification. Rather than responding directly to a message or phone number supplied by a potential scammer, consumers should contact the organization through an independently verified phone number or website.
This is particularly important with social media scams, where criminals can create convincing profiles and impersonate legitimate employees, charities, businesses or community organizations.
How to Protect Yourself From Similar Scams
The situation involving Huber serves as a reminder that scammers often exploit trust rather than relying solely on technical tricks.
Several warning signs should raise suspicion:
- An unexpected message from someone claiming to represent an organization.
- Requests for large upfront payments.
- Promises that seem unusually generous or too good to be true.
- Pressure to send money quickly.
- Requests to communicate exclusively through social media.
- A refusal to provide verifiable documentation.
- Instructions to send money through difficult-to-reverse payment methods.
Before sending a significant amount of money, verify the person's identity directly with the organization they claim to represent. If the offer involves housing, ask for official documentation and independently confirm the property, organization and individuals involved.
Community Rallies Behind the Family
Despite the devastating circumstances, Huber and her son have received support from friends and members of the community.
A family friend established a verified GoFundMe campaign to help the family obtain stable housing and recover from the financial loss.
The campaign emphasizes that the family is not seeking luxury or extravagance, but simply a safe and stable place to live while they attempt to rebuild their lives.
Huber's experience is a painful example of how a single fraudulent transaction can have consequences extending far beyond money. Losing $12,000 meant losing the financial cushion that helped keep a roof over her family's head.
The case also underscores an important lesson for everyone: when an unsolicited offer involves a large amount of money, take time to verify it independently—even when the person appears to represent an organization you know and trust.
For victims of scams, acting quickly is also important. Contact your financial institution, preserve messages and payment records, report suspected fraud to law enforcement and notify the legitimate organization being impersonated. While recovery is never guaranteed, prompt reporting can help document the crime and potentially limit further losses.
