We thought we had found our dream 3 bedroom home – two days later, it feels like ‘purgatory’ & we’re out $2.5k

A DEVASTATED couple fell victim to a rental scam and lost thousands of dollars in the space of just a few days.

Tommie-Rose Rodriguez and her fiance thought they had found their perfect home , but their dream quickly turned into a nightmare.

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Two days after the couple moved into their newly rented property in Albuquerque, New Mexico , the pair were informed by an Opendoor rep that it was a scam.

“I’m in limbo, and it feels like purgatory,” Rodriguez told NBC affiliate KOB .

“I don’t know what to do.”

Rodriguez and her fiance saw the house listing on Facebook and instantly jumped at the opportunity.

The rental three-bedroom, two-bath house had been advertised for $1,100 a month.

On top of the first month’s rent, the couple also handed over money for the application fee, deposit, and damage deposit.

So, altogether Rodriguez and her fiance were out almost $2,500.

The person she assumed to be the landlord remotely unlocked the door twice for Rodriguez, convincing her the process was legitimate.

“He had all the right answers, and I was like, OK, so I jumped on it because I didn’t want to lose it,” she said.

The house was listed on Opendoor for $362,000 and it says it’s coming soon.

The company, however, only lists homes for sale, never for rent .

Opendoor had nothing to do with the fraud whatsoever.

They confirmed to KOB that the couple were victims of a rental scam.

“Rental scams are an unfortunate and growing trend across the US affecting millions of consumers,” Opendoor told The U.S. Sun.

“It’s important for consumers to know that Opendoor homes are never available for rent, only for sale.

“We’re working closing with the victims to assist them in moving out.”

It feels like purgatory.

Tommie-Rose Rodriguez Victim of the rental scam

Opendoor is letting the couple stay in the property while they figure out what to do next , but Rodriguez is far from comfortable with this arrangement.

“I feel bad because I’m here, and I’m not supposed to be, even though I thought I was supposed to be,” she said.

Unfortunately for Rodriguez, she has had no luck getting her money back as of yet.

She called her bank and asked for help dealing with the fraud.

“I was dumb enough to use Cash app and PayPal,” she said.

Rodriguez also approached these two companies to ask for her money back.

“The bank just basically denied me right out.

Tips on spotting property scams

These five tips on avoiding real estate scams have been shared by The Bellamy Law Firm.

Fake Owners :

• This is where properties are listed for sale by scammers who do not own them.
• They may ask for a deposit to “hold” the property until you can view it to lure in prospective buyers.
• Be wary of people who ask for money upfront and before signing any documents ensure you ask to see the tax records and deeds.

Fake Real Estate Professionals:

• Scammers pretending to be real estate agents.
• Prospective buyers can check the Board of Realtors website for the individual and their real estate license to confirm their story.

Cash Offers:

• Warning phrases for this are: “We pay cash for homes” and “We buy ugly houses.”
• This often sees people sell their homes for much less than the going market value and those who are hard-up are often victims.

Predatory Lending:

• Some mortgage lenders may urge borrowers to repeatedly refinance their mortgages when it is not needed so they can get more cash on hand.
• It is also important to be suspicious of lenders who come to you before you have requested help.

Bait-and-Switch Moving Companies:

• This is where the moving company gives you an estimate for your belongings and then increases the cost when they arrive which pressurizes customers to accept the new offer.
• Another version of this is when movers pick up your belongings but hold them hostage and refuse to deliver them until more money has been paid.
• People moving homes should ask for a license number from the moving company and check for complaints with official companies like the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• It is also worth shopping around by getting multiple quotes and holding off on paying until the move has been completed.

Source: The Bellamy Law Firm

“They sent me a letter saying that they weren’t liable for it because I approved [the payment].”

Rodriguez also went to her bank in person to check if there was any way for her to get the money back.

She then went to the police in Albuquerque to see if there was anything they could do.

Rental scams are an unfortunate and growing trend across the US affecting millions of consumers.

Opendoor spokesperson

“The whole conversation lasted less than five minutes,” she said.

“I got an email later with the police report number. That’s it.”

The U.S. Sun has contacted Meta about the issue to ask if they can provide advice on how to avoid falling victim to rental scams.

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