Woman Accused of Renting Homes She Did Not Own
A Jacksonville woman has been arrested after police say she advertised homes she did not own on Facebook Marketplace, collected deposits and rent, and allowed families to move in — leaving renters without housing and legitimate property owners with unauthorized occupants.
A Jacksonville woman has been arrested after police say she advertised homes she did not own or manage on Facebook Marketplace, collected deposits and rent, and sometimes allowed families to move into the properties. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office alleges that Saderria Johnson copied legitimate rental listings, accessed homes through self-guided tours and then posed as the landlord, leaving renters without housing and legitimate property owners with unauthorized occupants.
According to police reports reviewed by News4JAX, at least four homes owned by Jacksonville-based JWB Real Estate were allegedly used in the scheme. Johnson faces multiple criminal charges, but the allegations have not been proven in court.
- Location
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Properties
- At least four homes owned by JWB Real Estate
- Status
- Saderria Johnson faces multiple criminal charges; allegations not proven in court
Investigators say Johnson copied photographs and information from legitimate rental advertisements and offered the homes at prices substantially below market rent. JWB Leasing Manager AJ Fuller said a property legitimately renting for approximately $1,500 might be fraudulently advertised for $700 or $800.
Johnson allegedly scheduled legitimate self-guided tours while posing as a prospective tenant. After receiving access through the company's digital lockbox system, police say she showed the homes to other people, claimed she had authority to lease them and collected payments.
One family reportedly paid Johnson more than $1,000 and moved into a home before discovering that she did not own or manage the property.
Warning Signs for Prospective Tenants
An advertised rent far below comparable properties is often the first warning sign. Other concerns include:
- Pressure to pay a deposit immediately.
- Requests for payment through Zelle, gift cards or wire transfers.
- The same photographs appearing in listings with different contact information.
- An advertiser who cannot prove ownership or management authority.
- Refusal to provide contact information for an established leasing office.
Before paying money, applicants should check county property-appraiser records to identify the owner. If the advertiser is not the owner, the applicant should independently contact the owner or management company to verify that the person has authority to lease the property.
Landlords Should Monitor Their Own Listings
Rental scams can leave legitimate owners with strangers occupying their properties, changed locks, unauthorized utility accounts and a complicated removal process.
Landlords using self-guided tours should verify identities, use temporary access codes and place a notice inside each vacant home identifying the authorized leasing company and approved payment methods.
Owners should also periodically search their property addresses on Facebook Marketplace and other platforms. Discovering a copied advertisement early may prevent someone from paying a fraudulent deposit or moving into the property.
The below-market rent probably attracted people who could not afford market rent. That means the victims were among those who could least afford to lose a deposit or be left without housing. That is the real tragedy.
The case also exposes a weakness in self-guided tours. A person who gains access can appear to have authority to lease the home.
Landlords should verify identification, use access codes that expire quickly, monitor every entry and post the authorized leasing contact and payment method inside the property. They should also search their addresses regularly on Facebook Marketplace. Convenience is valuable, but it must include safeguards.
Source: News4JAX I-TEAM.
Sources
News4JAXDisclaimer: Florida Landlord Network is a non-attorney service. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Florida attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
