Pregnant mother of 4 warns of rental scam after losing $1,600 in DeKalb County

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A metro Atlanta woman is urging others to be cautious of potential rental scams after she was allegedly swindled out of more than $1,500 by a woman who did not own the home she was renting.

The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous due to embarrassment, recounted her experience of being deceived while searching for a new home for her family. "When I found her, I thought, ‘Yes, a blessing has come,’" she said.

The woman, who was pregnant and looking for a place to move with her four children, connected with another woman through a Facebook group. "She basically said she had the perfect house that I could move into within two or three weeks," the victim explained.

The first payment was made on Dec. 7, and the victim believed everything was legitimate. "I had the lease and everything. We signed the lease. I met her kids and everything. She gave me the code and everything for the house," she said. The alleged landlord even mentioned that the refrigerator and other appliances were new and that cleaners were coming in.

However, the first red flag appeared when the victim never received a physical key, although she trusted the woman and moved her belongings in using a keypad. She did not fully live there as the gas was not turned on.

The situation escalated when a note was found on the door, stating that her belongings would be placed on the curb and that she was trespassing. "I sent someone to see if the gas was on, and that's when the note was on the door. At the time, I was at my baby's first doctor's appointment. I just cried. In the office," she recalled.

The note was posted by Main Street Renewal Company, the actual owner of the property, warning of scams in the neighborhood. The victim broke down, saying, "These last past couple of months I've been going through so much. So, I broke down. I cried."

The accused woman, whose name is not being disclosed as police have not filed charges, denied the allegations. "No, that is not me. I haven't made a lease for her at all," she said. "It's not true because if it was true, then I would be in jail," she added. "I didn't do nothing like that, and I didn't do nothing like that to anybody else either."

DeKalb County police confirm they are investigating the case. The victim hopes her story serves as a warning to others. "Do your research. I didn't do mine. Please do your research. Especially if you're dealing with people on Facebook or on social media. Please do your research," she advised.

Main Street Renewal Company, the actual owner of the home, stated they take rental scams and fraud cases seriously. They are in close contact with the victim and are assisting her in finding housing for her family. The victim mentioned that other people have come forward, claiming they were also victims of the same woman.

DeKalb County police continue to investigate the case.