When 86-year-old Shirley Ball began searching online for an affordable apartment, she thought she had finally found a home. Instead, she became the victim of an elaborate rental scam conducted through Facebook and Telegram that cost her approximately $1,700.
Ball came to The Hoboken Shelter last month after spending almost a year at another local shelter following the loss of her apartment after it was condemned.
While searching for new housing options on her own, Ball connected through Facebook with a supposed real estate broker claiming they could help. She was eventually offered what appeared to be a beautiful Jersey City apartment for $959 per month, a dream rent that she could afford with her modest monthly Social Security income. She never met the purported broker in person. All communication took place through Facebook and Telegram.
Ball initially sent money for rent and fees through her bank. When the bank flagged the transactions as potential fraud, the scammers convinced her to continue making payments using Apple gift cards. They later requested another $500 to secure the apartment keys.
The keys never arrived.
“I wanted the apartment desperately,” Ball said. “And when you get so desperate, that's when they take a person and they use them.”
By the time The Hoboken Shelter became involved, Ball had lost approximately $1,700 and the scammers were seeking additional money for a security deposit. The Shelter's 100% donor-powered Campaign for Housing Justice fund helps provide security deposits directly to local landlords, removing what is often the final barrier to housing for many homeless individuals.
Before providing that assistance, the Shelter requires documentation from the landlord. Executive Director Jaclyn Cherubini noticed inconsistencies involving the purported broker, landlord, and required W-9 documentation.
“The submitted documentation did not add up,” Cherubini said. “It was just wrong.”
Shelter staff attempted to contact the purported broker, who continued communicating with Ball but did not respond to the Shelter’s repeated calls. Staff quickly moved to stop all transactions before any additional money was lost.
“Our hearts went out to Shirley when we realized the extent of the scam and how much money she had already lost,” said Cherubini. “Unfortunately, older adults and people experiencing homelessness can be particularly vulnerable to this type of crime.”
Clinical Case Coordinator Norma Rosario then continued working with Ball to find housing she could afford on her limited income. The Shelter ultimately helped her secure an apartment and funded her security deposit.
Today, Ball is living independently in her own home.
“Everything is new. The stove is nice. Everything in the kitchen is nice, and the bedroom is nice,” Ball said shortly after moving in. “It's really a nice place.”
Ball’s experience offers a warning for others searching for housing online. Hoboken-based realtor, Jamie Kieffer, who also volunteers frequently at the Shelter, recommends verifying the identity, brokerage and state license of anyone claiming to be a real estate professional before sending money. That can be done here: https://www-dobi.nj.gov/DOBI_LicSearch/recSearch.jsp
“Never send funds directly to an agent, or anyone claiming to be one,” Kieffer said. “Any brokerage related fees should be paid directly to the brokerage, not an individual.”
For Ball, the approximately $1,700 she lost is money she is still trying to recover. But after a long period of homelessness and a housing scam that wiped out her savings, she finally has what she had been searching for: a safe, stable home of her own.
How to Help
Finding an affordable home in one of the country’s most expensive rental markets is a challenge for many Shelter Guests. Our Campaign for Housing Justice is 100% donor-funded and helps remove one of the final barriers to housing by providing security deposits directly to landlords. We urgently need funding to help more Guests take that final step into a home of their own. Donations can be made here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/thehobokenshelter
