How the F did they get the key?

Yes, this is a real thing, was a huge problem during the Great Depreciation Recession. Almost happened to one of my listings but I caught them. The key is to not let them take possession-squatters rights-but we handle things the Italian way, nobody ever seems to want to exercise those rights..

That is insane Fred.  We did have a craigs list rental spammer on one of our properties last year or so and it was a mess. Thank goodness people were wise enough to drive by, see my sign and call me directly.  Otherwise they would have sent off a check to the  spammer guy.  We have created tight security measures on rentals due to craigs list spammers.

That is scary!  I can't imagine having to wait all that time to get the squatters out.

This crazy law is going to make GA residents go vigilante and get them out themselves!  Tammy Lankford, thoughts?!!

I have not.

Wow!  Craig's list here tries to identify them as fast as they can.  These scammers access legal owner names and create emails with the owner's name.  A

The law is that warped just about everywhere and the police have a standard phrase whenever a landlord calls, "thats a civil matter"

Horrible.  Fortunately, I have not encountered this situation.  Four-to-six weeks might be a quick fix to resolve the issue in California -- it's more likely to take months.   

Fred Griffin - most of the states favor tenants - legal or illegal! It's time to change the system, if possible.

This is our crazy government at work.  These people are trespassing and need to be kicked out NOW!!

We had a Craigslist scammer a few years ago that rented the same house about 18 times. She actually got caught.

That is just pure insanity! Seems it doesn't matter where you live tenants have all the rights.

Ugh, what a mess. Not sure what the scoop is here in CA but getting squatters out is not an easy thing. I seem scams regularly on Craigslist, incouding listings being turned into "rentals"

I caught a scam on one of my properties on Craig's list.  We almost got the guy.

Oh yes have I got stories after doing this for decades. I had one guy move in, forge a signature of the seller we bought the house from, make up a rental agreement with hsi name and just moved right in. When confronted by me, he was cool as a cucumber. I knew he was a transient with sophisticated scam one of the best too. I called the police and after they talked with him, the police told me to file a civil action there was nothing they can do. WRONG. I took the cop aside and explained to him that we were building hundreds of units and tearing down houses and the city council and Mayor is behind us. I used one other tactic which I wont mention for now and when I was finished, the cop goes back to the house and tells this guy and his wife...they will be back later this afternoon and they better be out by then period. The guys wife says to the her husband lets get out here (as in the jig is up) and they did....

It's a squatters law - many many cities in California have a squatters law as well

Years agao, there was one squatter that actually  got to own a home in Santa Monica Ca. due to the squatters law there.

They wouldn't leave, had mail being sent to the address and after  a few years the courts gave the property to the squatter.

Gotta love Ca... NOT! LOL

Call my staff; they will assist you

Oh, wow, Fred. I just have no more words. The courts are crazy! That's why when I've been asked what I really would have liked to be in life, I say "Judge Judy." I'd love to bring some semblance of sanity and common sense into a court room.

Thanks news, now every criminal knows what do it. CA can have issues with that too if they lived in the home for certain time and have little kids or elder members. 

Seems like a hangover from the REO market. I heard of an agent who had an REO "Hijacked" by a scammer who swept through our area. He found an out of the way REO, switched out the agent' sign for his own and stated the house was for rent. He'd gone through with an agent earlier in the day and left the windows open. He advertised in Craigslist (a google alert would have possibly stopped this from happening using the properties address!), cheap rent, said he had an owner leaving the country and blah, blah, blah. Took 1st, last, security deposits from 5 families. Told them to meet him the following Monday and get the keys. He left town and put the agent's sign BACK UP!! It was a frickin' nightmare.

That happened to a friend of mine (not a client) who's an investor in certain parts of town. He sent over two of his friends on the payroll. I think one of them was called ... Guido? No messing around with that crap. Anyways, the so-called trespassers-scammer-tenants apparently left in a real hurry..... with very little argument.

another reason I'm thankful we don't participate in rentals...

Years ago when I was involved with listing foreclosure properties, this happened with a couple of houses...Craigslist scammer had "rented" them out.  

The real crime in that article?  This headline:  A Cobb County woman is filled with frustration after she says strangers moved into the vacant house she was selling without her knowledge.

She was selling a house without her knowledge?  SMH. 

Ouch!

I have not hard of such a thing happening.

Probably considered unlawful entry in Virginia. Maybe brokers should create an office policy of not using craigslist for real estate.

OH MY Fred, sounds like GA needs to review their law on this!  

These craiglist scams are getting worst, but how did they get the key?

I have to agree with Anna Banana Kruchten, CRS ..this is insane! They broke in and need to be evicted.

That sucks.  We just had a client who purchased a home, had moved in and a week and a half later there were people walking around their yard. They saw them and talked to them and the tenants said they were about to put down money to rent it.  Uh....no, the owners said, we just bought it. Where did you get this info?  Craigslist.  They hadn't sent money yet thankfully.  Agents were called - the home hadn't even been marketed on craigslist when it was for sale.  Glad it didn't come to this. -Kasey

I've had rental properties fall to the scam before.  Even one pulled off of zillow (branded photos and branded write-up as well) and pasted onto craigslist.  Luckily, people either drove by and saw my sign or called me from the write-up.  I reported the post and filed with the FBI's IFCC and on the first one with my local Sheriff's office.

Out here, squatters rights was a big problem a few years back.  I can see why they're allowed to stay although I'd do it the Italian way like Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor,CRS,ePro said.

I saw that. Very bizarre indeed.  What bugged me is that there seemed to be something missing about the story.  The back window was broken which suggests the "tenants" did not have a key. 

get them out now

It's not that difficult. Break into the home then call a locksmith to come out and change locks on the front door. They won't question whether you are the owner or not. Once locks are changed, advertise it below market rate and make up a story about firing your property manager and needing to rent it fast for cheap. People exchange money for a key and move in. Scammer moves to the next town and repeats.

Watermarking all the pictures of your listings will help but down on this dramatically.

Seems like the law breakers have more rights than the owners. And, no funds to ever pay a judgment, but the judge still gives them time at the owners expense. Somethng wrong here?

Fred Griffin Interesting how you have to go through the eviction process for illegal tenants.

In Oklahoma eviction is a max of three weeks and this qualifies as felonious trespassing.

Thanks for telling us about this difficult issue.

There is no shortage of new rentals scams but here if they break in and move in, they dont stay. Happy to say no liberal judges here. They follow and enforce the law. 

State specific ???

 Ha ha ha. Very funny.