Categories: Chicago

A Skokie Family gets scammed by a fake landlord

A Skokie family lost $3600 as they were scammed by a fake landlord. The family faced homelessness and they left scrambling to find a place to live in. The family says that they are left with only a little money and they are unable to pay the rent and bills of their old apartment. The family added that they were scammed with a trick.

Viviana Quiroz and her family found a unit in suburban Skokie at the rate of $1200/month. Quiroz said, “We were looking for a new apartment and we found one”. The woman pretended her as Sarah Goldman while the authorities said that her real name was Debra Wasserman. Wasserman told the Quiroz family that she would help them in finding a new apartment.

Alex Quiroz said, “She was just saying she wanted to help out a family to live comfortably, and that’s what we were hoping for.” Wasserman asked the family to pay $3600 in cash to her. When the family reached the place which they had rented, they found that everything about the rental agreement was fake. The family came with their belongings and on-year lease.

The family was told that they were scammed when they reach the rented home. Viviana Quiroz said, “I immediately started crying. I had my kids there and I just started crying. The woman lied to us.” Pankaj Kumar, a person who lives in that building, told that some other families were also scammed in a similar fashion.

The family returned back to their old apartment but their lease agreement is going to end this month. They do not find a way yet to recover the funds. Skokie police have arrested Wasserman and placed three charges of theft against her. Wasserman was arrested on the base of the outstanding warrant of ID theft and burglary. The family urges people to stay careful while paying someone in cash as there are scams all around. Everyone needs to avoid the red flags, the family urged. The renters must have to be careful in making the lease agreements. Skokie Police have been investigating the case.

Adyson Sipes

Staff writer for the Chicago Morning Star

Recent Posts

Senate Democrats mock Biden for selling weapons to Israel

Some of President Biden's strongest Senate allies are calling on Israelis to end months of fierce fighting and criticizing the…

10 months ago

The biggest cities in Ukraine are struck by Russian missiles, leaving at least 4 dead and over 100 injured

Ukraine's KYIV — At least four people were killed and nearly 100 injured when Russian hypersonic ballistic missiles attacked Ukraine's…

10 months ago

Good News That’s Much Needed for Biden

The economy is making Americans feel a little more upbeat, especially when it comes to jobs and incomes, which could…

11 months ago

College Ventilation System Reveals Missing Man

The discovery of a decaying body inside a college ventilation system marked the tragic and unexplained end to a missing…

11 months ago

Following three Palestinian shots, a Vermont man was arrested

Following the shooting deaths of three 20-year-old Palestinian-American students in Vermont, authorities have detained a man. According to a news…

11 months ago

China is told to cease “COVID deception” due to the pneumonia outbreak by the US envoy

The United States ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, urged Chinese authorities "to abandon COVID deception" and demanded that China be…

12 months ago

This website uses cookies.