A Texas Woman Signs a 'Fake Lease' and Loses $2K in a Fort Worth Scam

A Texas woman who wanted a larger home in Fort Worth found a "great deal" on a rental property. She speaks to a man online who gave her a code to a smart lock, allowing her inside the home for the self-tour. She signs a lease and pays him. As she is trying to move in, she finds out that this was someone else's home and she lost over $2K in a growing scam.

Mendi CrusonPhoto byCBS 11 News

Texas Woman Loses Over $2K in Rental Scam

CBS 11 News reported on Thursday that Mendi Cruson was looking for a larger home with a big backyard for her family, and she thought she found the perfect home in Forth Worth online "on websites like Realtor.com and Zillow."

That's how she met a man online named "Thomas Woodcock" who claimed to be the owner of the home and explained why he couldn't meet her in person.

He told her the following:

"I have several properties that I lease out with me and my partner, but I live out of state." -Thomas Woodcock, man claiming to be homeowner

Thomas Woodcock asked her to register her personal information on the website, 'InvitationHomes.com,' which gave her an access code to the smart lock which allowed Cruson to go inside and do a self-guided tour of the home.

She loved what she saw, so she wanted to move forward.

CBS 11 News reported that Cruson "paid more than $2,000 for the security deposit and first month's rent" and went ahead with moving in, after receiving documentation.

She Noticed Red Flags on Moving Day

On the moving day, she thought it was strange that she had to pay a locksmith to change the smart lock code on the house just to get into the house.

The next red flag was when a man driving a gray car showed up at her front door.

He asked her, "Why are you moving into my home?"

She replied, 'Sir, I have a lease, I can show you all the documentation, I'm renting this house."

The man informed her, "Well I'm moving in this weekend, you just watch and see."

Not long after this encounter, two Invitation Homes employees show up at the house and tell Cruson she was scammed.

The man she paid for the security deposit and first month's rent was a scammer and not the owner of the home.

The U.S. Sun recommends looking for discrepancies when home shopping, such as varying prices in rent on different websites. It might indicate that one of these is not the real listing.

In the case of Mendi Cruson, she found a price online that was listed much cheaper than InvitationHomes.com was leasing the home for. They invited Mendi to re-apply for a lease, which confirmed that the actual lease price was higher than what she paid in the scam. Her family was forced to move out weeks later.

CBS 11 News reported that this type of rental scam has been targeting large property management firms in North Texas, such as FirstKey, StreetLane Homes, and Progress Residential.

Thoughts

Now it is time for the reader to share your thoughts on this story.

• Did you know that scammers were listing homes and properties that didn't belong to them?
• What would you do if you came across a scam posting online?

Please like and share this article so others can be informed about the latest scams online.

Sources

Allen, Ginger. "I-Team finds rental scams targeting vacant homes in DFW." CBS 11 News. 14 March 2024.

Loreto, M.A. "I lost more than $2,000 the day I moved into my new home – the fact I had to pay a locksmith to even get in was a sign." The U.S. Sun. 15 March 2024.

Mendi Cruson on Facebook.

The Original Article can be read here:

"Texas Woman Loses $2K After Signing a Fake Lease in Fort Worth Scam Targeting Large Property Firms"

Nigerian Scammer Admits He Took $100K from Women Online with Romance Scams

A Nigerian scammer confessed that he took money from women online, divulging details about who he targeted so others can learn from his past romance scams.

Nigerian scammer "Christopher Maxwell"; credit NBC4 Washington

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that romance scams totaled $1.3 billion in 2022.

Now the consulting firm Social Catfish consults with a past romance scammer from Nigeria.

Cofounder Brianna McClellan shares a big red flag.

She said:

“You met someone, and they're professing their love to you right away followed by someone asking you for money, gift cards, wire transfers, anything,” she said. “Anything that has to do with money being sent, red flag.”

Take the image of the person you are talking to, and put it into Google reverse image or on Social Catfish reverse image feature to see if you are talking to a catfish.

Nigerian Man Shares Details About His Past Romance Scams

A Nigerian man shares the details of his past romance scams on American women so now they can be careful when dealing with scammers online.

NBC4 Washington reported that a man who calls himself "Christopher Maxwell" is now divulging how he targeted women with romance scams to steal money.

Maxwell shared how he typically picked his victims.

He said:

“I usually pick my victims from the ages of 38 to, maybe, 60 to 65. Single women. I look for women that’re single that have kids, and they need someone to take care of them, to love them.”

He would often look for divorced women on dating platforms while using a picture of a military service member to portray himself as a trustworthy individual.

He said that sometimes his scam could yield money quickly, while other times it could take months. He would employ a "sob story" that he was deployed, and didn't have access to his bank account, and he needed help making a payment on a house, car, or for his kids. Of course, it was always a lie.

He said:

“Sometimes you have to be patient for months,” Maxwell said. “Sometimes I can get money in three days...Definitely, she would want to help me, because I’m her boyfriend.”

Maxwell even admits that he worked on and perfected his American accent so he could chat on the phone with his American victims.

He said:

“If you’re talking to someone online, a stranger that you don’t know, um, you can ask for a video call,” he advised. “If someone is refusing to talk to you on a video call for absolutely no reason, it’s a scam.” 

But Maxwell said he did feel guilty taking money from these women based on his lies.

He said:

“I felt so guilty,” he said. “I showed her my face on video call. She cried. She did not block me.”

He confessed what he did to his last victim after she got sick and went into debt. 

Nigerian Man Was Fined $250 and Spent One Day in Jail after Scamming $100,000 USD

Maxwell stole about $100,000 over five years and was arrested by authorities in Nigeria. He paid a $250 fine for his crime and spent one day in jail.

Florida Man Meets a Catfish Online and His Encounter in Miami Goes Viral

Sonny

A man named Sonny thought he met the woman of his dreams online, but she turned out to be a catfish (defined as "someone pretending to be someone they are not, or someone that is misrepresenting their looks online). She had many pictures that he liked on Instagram, and he even Facetimed with her before traveling to meet her in person for the first time, online to find out that she used filters to make parts of her body look different. This eventually came out later when they meet in person in Miami.

They First Met Online, but She Looks Different in Person

Their relationship was going pretty good, so they wanted to meet in person. So Sonny paid $400 for the woman to fly to Miami to meet him at his apartment.

But when he actually meets her, he realizes that the images she posted on Instagram were heavily filtered and Photoshopped. Because after meeting her in person, Sonny says: "She looked nothing like her social media photos."

The woman starts to get upset and yell, so he recorded the audio of their encounter. In his personal recording, as she argues that her photos are real, he says: "It's not even a debate, it's not the same thing at all."

Sonny felt that the woman acted like a catfish online. He posted a video of his first time meeting with her in Miami, and his video went viral.

Sonny says that while the woman was not ugly, he was still deceived. He believes she was a catfish online. His viral encounter in person with her was in Miami.

This man's story was featured on Dr. Phil's show, on an episode titled, "Social Media vs. Reality: Addicted to Likes?"

Watch the video below:

Question:

Do you think it's okay for a person you meet online to misrepresent themself online and use filters?

Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Online Catfish Scam Stole More than $50,000 with Scott Humpal photos

Online Catfish Scam Stole More than $50,000 with Scott Humpal photos

Catfish Scam

According to WFMY CBS news story, in North Carolina, a woman by the name of Roxanne Reed was scammed online by a "Catfish" - an online predator that pretends to be someone he or she is not. The online scammer went by the name of Scott Humpal in Facebook. He friended Roxanne Reed, and started begging her for monetary assistance to pay his medical bills. Roxanne Reed gave in to the request and sent the catfish several payments totaling over $50,000 USD.

The story gets worse.

Family members reported the scam to authorities, and investigators uncovered that Roxanne Reed herself was plotting a crime of her own. She was plotting to kill her mother, and pocket the insurance money. 

There is a real Scott Humpal, and he lives in Corpus Christi, TX - over 1,200 miles away. The real Scott Humpal had received a series of suspicious messages on Facebook nearly seven years ago from the catfish scammer.

Scott Humpal Catfish Scammer has done Multiple Scams Online 

This wasn't the first time that Scott Humpal's photo was used to scam innocent people. The news story in the KRIS 6 News video below describes how the catfish scammer has been using his photo to defraud others, often widows that have been through a tragedy.

The real Scott Humpal has shared in the interview not to ever send money to this scammer that is using his identity without permission. If you are contacted by a catfish scammer using the identity of Scott Humpal, please contact your local police.

#catfish

#online

#scammer

#scam

FACEBOOK ONLINE LOTTERY EMAIL PHISHING SCAM

From: FACEBOOK INC USA
email: info@facebookaward.com
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!

The following phishing email was received and reads as follows:

FACEBOOK ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
CATEGORY: 2ND

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!

Facebook is aimed at saying A BIG THANK YOU to all our Online Users  
for making Facebook their number one means to Connect, Communicate,  
Relate and Hookup with their Families, Love Ones and Friends over the  
years.

So We are pleased to inform you of the result of the DRAW held on (1ST  
OF OCTOBER 2016) by Facebook Inc in cash Promotion to encourage the  
usage of Facebook Users world wide, your Facebook Email Account was  
among the 50 Lucky Winners who won ( Six Hundred Thousand United State  
Dollars ) each on the Facebook Promotion Award Attached to Ticket  
Number (5647600545189), Lucky Number:(2551256002/244) and Serial  
Number (55643451907).

Kindly get back to us for further instructions as you are required to  
contact our dispatch dept ( facebookinc.usa@aol.com ) by signifying  
your interest by providing your most confidential your NAME, CELL  
PHONE NUMBER for quick communication also your HOME ADDRESS and  
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

Acknowledge this mail by replying back immediately.
John Cole
Promo Coordinator.
© 2016 FACEBOOK

Note: The preceding email is obviously not from the real Facebook company. It is only to be used for information purposes to protect yourself.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next: Facebook Online Lottery

Murphy Wilberfox May 17 @ 4:15pm Report

Facebook® Online International Mega-Jackpot

Promotion/Claims Department

300 SOUTH GLENDALE AVENUE

GLENDALE,  CA 91205 U.S.A.

*******************************************

CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK!!!

*******************************************

Dear user,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual Final draws held on the (14th of May 2016) by Facebook group incash Promotion to encourage all Facebook users worldwide, your javascript:void(0) Name was among the 50 Lucky winners who won $2,000,000:00USD each on the Facebook group promotion Award Attached to ticket number (FB/5647600545189) and Ref No (FB/2551256002/41875) Serial Number (FB/55643451907).

The online draws was Conducted by a random selection of emails, you were picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from Facebook, the lottery program which is a new innovation by Facebook is aimed at saying A BIG THANK YOU to all our users for making Facebook their number one means to connect, communicate, relate and hook up with their families and friends over the years.

For the claim of your winning amount of $2,000,000.00, kindly provide your full details as stated below.

Full Name: ..........................................

Gender: .............................................

Age: ................................................

Address: ............................................

City: ...............................................

State: ................Zip Code:.....................

Mobile Phone Number: ................................

Occupation: .........................................

Copy of I.D..........................................

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences. Furthermore, if there is any change in email address please notify us on time.

All winnings must be claimed before the end of this program; otherwise all funds will be returned as unclaimed and eventually donated to charity organizations.

Thanks and best regards,

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder/Facebook.com

Facebook Online Lottery

Sony Online Entertainment Phishing Email Scam

Sony Online Entertainment Logo

If You Had a PlayStation Network, Qriocity, or Sony Online Entertainment Account Before Ma‌y 1‌5, 201‌1, You Could Get Benefits from a Class Action Settlement.

A settlement has been reached with the Sony Online Entertainment Entities about the illegal and unauthorized attacks (the “Intrusions”) in A‌pril 20‌11, on the computer network systems used to provide PlayStation Network (“PSN”), Qriocity, and Sony Online Entertainment (“SOE”) services. The Sony Entities deny any claims of wrongdoing in this case, and the settlement does not mean that the Sony Entities violated any laws or did anything wrong.

Who is included? The Class includes everyone in the US (including its territories) who had a PSN account, a Qriocity account, or an Sony Online Entertainment account at any time before Ma‌y 1‌5, 20‌11.

What does the settlement provide?

There are various benefits, depending in part on what type of account(s) you had. Benefits you could get (if you qualify) include:

• Payment equal to paid wallet balances (if $2 or more) in PSN or SOE accounts that have been inactive since the Intrusions,

• One or more of the following: a free PS3 or PSP game, 3 free PS3 themes, or a free 3-month subscription to PlayStation Plus (once valid claims exceed $10 million, class members will still be eligible for one free month of PlayStation Plus),

• A free month of Music Unlimited for Qriocity accountholders who did not have a PSN account,

• $4.50 in SOE Station Cash (amounts will be reduced proportionally if valid claims exceed $4 million).

Identity Theft Reimbursement: If you had out-of-pocket charges due to actual identity theft, and have documentation proving that the theft was caused by the Intrusion(s), you can submit an email claim for reimbursement up to $2,500. Reimbursements will be reduced proportionally if the total amount payable on all valid claims would exceed $1 million.

How can I get benefits? To get benefits, you must file a claim form. Claim forms are available at WWW.PSNSOESETTLEMENT.COM. You can also request claim forms from the Claims Administrator by writing to PSN-SOE Settlement, P‌O Bo‌x 1‌947, Fariba‌ult, M‌N 55‌021 or by calling 1‌-87‌7-5‌52-1‌284. The earliest deadline to file a claim is Aug‌ust 31, 2015, or 6‌0 d‌ays after the settlement becomes final and effective. Visit the website for more details on submitting a claim online or by email.

Your other options. Even if you do nothing, you will be bound by the Court’s decisions. If you want to keep your right to sue the Sony Entities yourself, you must exclude yourself from the Settlement Class by Apr‌il 1‌0, 20‌15. If you stay in the Settlement Class, you may object to the settlement by Ap‌ril 1‌0, 20‌15. For instructions on how to exclude yourself from the Class or object to the settlement, please seeWWW.PSNSOESETTLEMENT.COM.

The Court will hold a hearing in this case on M‌ay 1, 20‌15, to consider whether to approve the settlement, and a request by Class Counsel for fees, costs, and expenses up to $2,750,000. You or your own lawyer may appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense.

For more information or Claim Forms:

WWW.PSNSOESETTLEMENT.COM or 1‌-87‌7-55‌2-1‌284

PARA UNA NOTIFICACIÓN EN ESPAÑOL, VISITE NUESTRO SITIO DE INTERNET. Editor Note: This email claims to take you to PSNSOESettlment.com, but the link actually takes you to link.e-sonyonline.com/u.d?L4GusvzOZeytph8gSzV-i=841