MPD investigates suspected rental fraudster – WKRG News 5

MOBILE, Alabama (WKRG) – At least 17 single mothers in Mobile are now homeless after a man allegedly scammed them on Facebook Marketplace.

Deneqwa Grigsby and her two children had only been living in their new home for five days when she heard a knock on the door from the administration.

“He said, ‘Hey, I just spoke to headquarters; this house is still for rent. Can I see your lease?'” Grigsby said.

She showed him the rental agreement and her keys, which the property manager said did not belong to the apartment.

Grigsby tells News 5 she found the house on Facebook Marketplace. She messaged the person who posted and asked if it was still available. Shortly after, she met the man at the house and toured it. She paid him a $1,000 deposit, signed a lease and moved in.

She said everything was normal, but when she tried to talk to him after the property manager told her the house was for rent, she could not reach him.

The next day she had to move out.

“Now I’m starting over again; the money he took was like savings,” Grigsby said. “So now I’m starting from scratch.”

After moving out, Grigsby made a post on Facebook explaining her situation and was then added to a group chat with 17 other single mothers in Mobile who had also allegedly been scammed by the same person.

“I was just overwhelmed. I didn’t know what to do,” said Kiyanna Taylor.

Taylor spent only one night in the house she thought she was renting.

She had a very similar experience to Grigsby, except she paid the alleged suspect $1,200 instead. When she returned home the next night, her locks had been changed and there was a note on her door telling her to call the actual rental company.

“I asked the leasing company how he got your key and she said she came by to look at her property after making duplicate keys,” Taylor said.

News 5 has contacted the rental companies, we are still waiting for a response.

The Mobile Police Department says the investigation is currently ongoing.