BENSON – In a tight housing market, a Johnston County man thought he had found a small home at a great price. Several weeks later he realized the home he was paying for wasn’t his and he was forced to move. He had fallen victim to a scam.
Several months ago, the 33 year-old construction worker was on Facebook Marketplace looking for a place to rent or buy. He ran across a listing for a home for rent near Benson.
The victim said he met a man named “Tom Black” at a vacant home on Godwin Lake Road to view the property. Tom Black, which is likely a fictitious name, told the victim he would prefer to sale the 57 year-old home, with a tax value of $56,000, for only $40,000 and would finance the deal. The victim jumped at the opportunity.
The victim agreed to pay Tom Black $3,600, followed by monthly payments of $750 until the home was paid for. Everything seemed normal for a few weeks until the US Marshal’s Service posted a note on the door saying they owned the property. It turns out Tom Black sold a home he didn’t own.
Scammers post rental ads on social media sites to lure unsuspecting renters and to get quick cash. It is rare for the scammer to meet a victim in person. Research the property to make sure you are dealing with the actual owner. Don’t hesitate to ask for their identification. As always, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
