Gilma

Jul 9, 2022

SCAM Perpetrators

Great Jones is located in Dallas, TX. They buy up distressed properties across the south and give them a cosmetic face lift. They do not put up signs and the only place you will ever see the properties they manage is on their website. It rare to see a real employee. MY EXPERIENCE @ Warner Robins, GA I have a low credit score so hoping to avoid the typical goat rope I wanted to deal directly with an owner who may be willing to give a second chance to a deserving family. I checked Craigslist and Facebook Market Place. I found a house on Craigslist and made an appointment to see the property. When I arrived there was a Rently lock box on the door but I was instructed to use a key on top of the porch light instead of going through Rently. But the key didn’t work, so the “owner” did something on his end and I received a Rently invitation to view the property. Upon accepting I received a code for the lock box. I went in and everything was just as the pictures showed. The “owner” sent me a lease agreement via email and I gave him deposit and first months rent $1,950 via ZELLE. I moved in and the same day another person opened the door and walked in on me with a key. He was just as astonished say he too had signed a lease and paid deposit and first months lease through Rently. Shortly after another gentleman showed up saying he represented Great Jones Property Management with a demand letter for me to vacate the property. After showing them proof that I had a lease they promptly informed me I had been scammed. They said they would try to work with me to stay in the house but I first had to apply through their website and pay a $50 app fee. They said they worked with people with credit scores as low as 500. So I did as instructed. Three days latter I was sent another demand letter to vacate the property. I am 67 years old and I am raising 3 of my grandchildren. My Equifax score is 525. Low but there are extenuating circumstances related to Covid closures. In hindsight, I think the scam owner actually worked for Great Jones and it all was a big ruse. The so called owner knew too much about the house and had enough information that Rently.com sent me a code on his request. BE AWARE of GREAT JONES!!!!! BE AWARE of USING ZELLE or similar. There is little recourse to recovery of funds.