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Section 8 Vouvher Scam Hits Nashville www.privateofficer.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn May 31 2009- Metro Police have issued a warning for a scam that hits close to home. A man has been promising Section 8 housing vouchers, but takes the applicant’s money instead. Some victims have come forward, but police think there could be many others.
One victim is a woman who was staying in a hotel and looking for a safe place to raise her children and grandchildren. She saw an ad on Craig’s List and thought she’d found a good home.
“We went in the house, looked at the house and took all the pictures of the house and everybody was ooing and aahing and happy,” said Melonye Burns.
The Craig’s List ad said it had section 8 housing vouchers available to help pay the rent on a brand new home on Shelby Avenue in East Nashville. Melonye Burns says she called the phone number on the ad and a man portrayed himself as an MDHA employee.
She met him at a downtown hotel where she paid him more than $1,300 as a deposit for the rent.
He gave her the keys to the house, but when she went there, they didn’t work.
“I called him to find out what was going on, why he gave me keys to a house that didn’t work and who was he. He’d completely changed his phone number, couldn’t get in touch with him,” said Burns.
A security camera at the hotel captured photographs of the suspect who called himself James Kingsley. Metro Police say he is scamming people who desperately need housing.
Metro Police are asking for information. If you know who this person is, call Metro Police.
A spokeswoman for MDHA says the agency does not advertise on Craig’s List or similar websites, and never takes money. Applications and vouchers are only available at the MDHA office.
One victim is a woman who was staying in a hotel and looking for a safe place to raise her children and grandchildren. She saw an ad on Craig’s List and thought she’d found a good home.
“We went in the house, looked at the house and took all the pictures of the house and everybody was ooing and aahing and happy,” said Melonye Burns.
The Craig’s List ad said it had section 8 housing vouchers available to help pay the rent on a brand new home on Shelby Avenue in East Nashville. Melonye Burns says she called the phone number on the ad and a man portrayed himself as an MDHA employee.
She met him at a downtown hotel where she paid him more than $1,300 as a deposit for the rent.
He gave her the keys to the house, but when she went there, they didn’t work.
“I called him to find out what was going on, why he gave me keys to a house that didn’t work and who was he. He’d completely changed his phone number, couldn’t get in touch with him,” said Burns.
A security camera at the hotel captured photographs of the suspect who called himself James Kingsley. Metro Police say he is scamming people who desperately need housing.
Metro Police are asking for information. If you know who this person is, call Metro Police.
A spokeswoman for MDHA says the agency does not advertise on Craig’s List or similar websites, and never takes money. Applications and vouchers are only available at the MDHA office.
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