KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Alleged Fresno Scam Rents Out Foreclosed Homes

Alleged Fresno Scam Rents Out Foreclosed Homes

By: Clint Olivier

The decorations are out on her West Fresno lawn, but Christmas will be anything but merry for Cathy Kinard and her family.

"He told me how much money I had to come up with, and I came up with that amount, and he said we could move on in," said Cathy Kinard.

Kinard says she rented a three bedroom, 2-bath condo a few months ago from a man who claimed to be the owner.

She says she paid Sam Haley a total of $1,450 for a deposit and three months rent, a deal she says sounded too good to be true.

"I jumped on it and I wish I hadn't," she said.

Kinard says she was contacted by detectives from the Fresno Police Department's Financial Crimes Division who told her she'd been scammed.

It turns out the house is actually owned by Wells Fargo Bank, and they need it back.

Kinard says they've paid her about $2,000 to move out by December 8th.

Kinard says she is just one of about 20 families in Fresno who were fooled by the scam.

"One of the best pieces of advice is always do your homework," said David Heuer, a real estate broker who specializes in foreclosures.

He suggests renting from a management company or actually pulling a house's records from the county before agreeing to any deals.

Heuer says a scam like the one allegedly committed against the Kinards is not unheard of, and potential tenants have to be careful who they rent from.

Because when it comes to foreclosures," there is a time period when a home will sit there before it's ready for market," he said.

We spoke to the man Cathy Kinard says rented her the home, Sam Haley.

Haley says he was arrested and later released, but he insists he's done nothing wrong.

He also said he's never met or heard of Cathy Kinard.

Kinard says Haley is a liar. "This man had no right to be renting out the properties, he had no type of legal right to be doing that," she said.

A spokesman for the Fresno Police Department confirms there is an investigation underway, and that the case is complicated.

He tells KMPH News that the department will release a statement in the coming days.