- Report: #1440890
Complaint Review: Uptown Real Estate Group INC Mariana Saldana - HOUSTON TX
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Uptown Real Estate Group INC Mariana Saldana
HOUSTON, TX, United States
Web:
uptownrealestategroup.com
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Uptown Real Estate Group INC , Mariana Saldana Mariana Saldana Mariana saldana uptown real estate group stole my credit card information and charged me without authorization!! HOUSTON TX
MARIANA SALDANA LISTS HOMES THAT ARE NO LONGER FOR RENT OR SALE!!!!!!!!!
Real estate scam No. 2: You’re renting a home that doesn’t exist
Wait, what? But you can see it online, and it’s spectacular. Nice neighborhood, huuuuuge backyard! Sorry; that house might indeed have those features, but it’s not actually available.
Here’s how this racket works: The scammer "borrows" the address and photos from a vacant home listed for sale and creates a bogus home-for-rent ad online, explains Tom Hume of the Hume Group in Tacoma, WA.
When you ask to meet the supposed landlords, the answer is that they’re out of the country and can only communicate via email; sometimes, the scammers will use a phone call to draw you in. They ask you to send a deposit and rental payment to their overseas P.O. box, and tell you that the key is hidden on the property, or they’ll send you the code to the door once they have your funds.
Surprise! Never going to happen.
Outwit it: Before you fall in love with the home, make sure that you are speaking with the rightful owner of the property or an established property manager by conducting an online records search. You can start with a simple Google search of the property address or go to the county website. Many states also have searchable online databases, some of which track owners’ names, or you can use a free service like CourthouseDirect.com, which can provide relevant information for that property.
In a similar scenario, a bad actor could be renting out a foreclosed home, pocketing your rent money and forcing you to relocate when the bank comes calling. All foreclosure notices are filed with the county clerk’s office, so pay a visit to see if you can determine if the house is at any stage of the foreclosure process, suggests Paul Cones, president of CourthouseDirect.com.
If you’re local, make sure you drive by the house and do a little door knocking. Neighbors often know quite a bit about the house; and, bonus, if it’s for real, you’ve just met a potential neighbor! Above all, never ever send a cashier's check overseas without doing your homework, Hume says. (And that's good advice for any life situation.)
