A sad fact of life is that some people will take advantage of others who are going through a difficult period in their lives. The nation’s housing and unemployment problems have created a situation where scam artists are resurrecting an old scam and defrauding people who are already suffering financial duress. The trick involves a “landlord” accepting a deposit from prospective tenants to hold a rental property for them and then disappearing. The vast numbers of foreclosed homes have created lots of opportunities for scammers to defraud renters hoping to rent them. Christine Minnehan, director of legislative advocacy for the Western Center on Law and Poverty, said, “In the past year, (these scams) have risen enormously because of all the vacant properties that are so much easier for this kind of scam to operate in.” This scam, called “landlord impersonation,” only works if the victims are willing to provide deposits in cash, which makes it very difficult for law enforcement officials to trace and catch these thieves. Making matters worse, most victims are reluctant to report this type of con, which is also in the scam artists’ favor. “What you have are primarily young, unsuspecting victims who truly believe they’re entering into a legitimate rental agreement,” said Adam Christianson, sheriff of Stanislaus County. “Before you know it, the real (property manager) shows up and says, ‘Why are you here?’ Then they’re out on the street and also out the money for first and last month’s rent and deposit.” If you’re thinking about buying or selling Louisville real estate, there’s nothing dishonest about having Louisville Properties assist you. The agency has the experience, resources and expertise to help you buy or sell real estate in the Louisville area, and it offers an array of services from which to choose. Call today at 502.744.9504 to talk to a Louisville real estate expert! Resource link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h4I9bP0XPDnrN_ShlvGuEuSOqdHwD9F1HK4G2