Advertisement

Author Topic: Here comes the "SHAMELESS" selfish leeches, doesn't matter if it's Y2K, COVID,  (Read 81 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline theking

  • Elite Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 62384
  • Respect: +1361
    • View Profile
...the LA fire, the Oroville dam or the hurricanes in the south...

They are always there to take advantage of the "desperate" victims  :idiot2::

Quote
Hundreds of L.A. landlords hike rents to capitalize on 'desperate' fire evacuees

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency last Tuesday in response to the Los Angeles wildfires, it triggered a key protection for tens of thousands of evacuated Angelenos who suddenly need a new place to live — either because their homes have burned down or because their neighborhoods could be off-limits for months to come.

“Following a declaration of emergency,” the California attorney general’s office explained online, “the statute generally prohibits landlords from increasing the price of rental housing by more than 10% of the previously charged or advertised price.”

“It’s called price gouging,” Attorney General Rob Bonta added during a press conference. “It is illegal. You cannot do it. It is a crime punishable by up to a year in jail and fines.”

And yet L.A. landlords for at least 400 rental properties seem to have ignored Bonta’s warning as they seek to maximize profits in the midst of an ongoing disaster.


That number comes from a crowdsourced spreadsheet launched by housing advocate Chelsea Kirk of the Los Angeles Tenants Union — complete with addresses, Zillow links, dates of rent increases and exact pre- and post-hike prices.

Stories of price gouging have been circulating on social media and in news reports for days. But Kirk’s spreadsheet, which anyone can contribute to, is the most comprehensive source yet.

One of the more extreme examples is a 9,615-square-foot Tudor mansion in Bel Air that was listed for $29,500 a month in December — before reappearing last week for $39,000 a month. But more modest properties aren’t exempt. A 1,200-square-foot two-bedroom in Woodland Hills was listed for $3,900 in November; it’s $5,900 now.

Some of the properties cited in Kirk’s spreadsheet are no longer on the market; others have seen their prices lowered, presumably to comply with the law. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Sunday that the city had launched “a new, simple intake system” to report price gouging.

“Call @MyLA311 to report illegally hiked rents and prices,” Bass posted on X. “We have no tolerance for it.”

But elsewhere, the gouging continues. On Monday, a “newly remodeled luxury home” appeared on Redfin for $25,000 a month. The price when it was last listed in December? $19,000 a month.

"People are desperate," one agent told LAist when asked why she instructed her clients to relist their home last week for nearly twice its previous price. "You can probably get good money."



Like this post: 0

Adverstisement

Offline theking

  • Elite Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 62384
  • Respect: +1361
    • View Profile
California moves to stop predatory sales of fire-stricken homes

California just made it harder for predatory real estate investors to take advantage of victims of the Los Angeles fires.

On Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order temporarily banning unsolicited and undervalued offers for properties in specific Los Angeles County zip codes.

The order will be in place for three months, with the zip codes including areas such as Malibu, Altadena, Pasadena, and Pacific Palisades — some of the areas worst hit by the ongoing fires.

The LA wildfires, which have been raging for more than a week, have burned more than 40,000 acres, damaged over 12,000 structures, including many homes, and killed at least 25 people.

"As families mourn, the last thing they need is greedy speculators taking advantage of their pain," Newsom said in a press release.

The governor described how real estate speculators are exploiting the situation, saying he'd heard firsthand from victims who had "received unsolicited and predatory offers" from speculators offering cash far below the market value.

The executive order prohibits offers below the fair market value as of January 6, 2025 — the day before the fires started.

The press release said that the order was inspired by a similar measure issued by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green in August 2023, designed to protect residents after wildfires devastated much of Lahaina.

Violating the order during a state of emergency is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, six months in prison, or both.

Altadena, a "working-class neighborhood" hit hard by the Eaton fire, was cited as an example where undermarket offers could displace vulnerable residents with long-standing ties to the community.

"We will not allow greedy developers to rip off these working-class communities at a time when they need more support than ever before," Newsom said.

Even in areas like the Palisades, which has some of the most expensive real estate in the country, not all victims were wealthy.

A 22-year-old living in the Palisades, who works multiple jobs and said many in her building were blue-collar workers, told Business Insider about having to evacuate her rental apartment.

Concerns about exploitation in the rental market are also growing, as those who have lost their homes look to the future.

Jason Oppenheim of Netflix's "Selling Sunset" said that greedy landlords have been taking advantage of the fires by price gouging, or illegally hiking rents.

He told Business Insider: "This is a time for people to put aside any opportunities for financial gain. If anything, we should be giving back financially, not trying to be rewarded financially from the situation."



Like this post: 0

Offline theking

  • Elite Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 62384
  • Respect: +1361
    • View Profile
Y2K:

Quote
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DAG
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1999

(202) 514-2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER WARNS OF "Y2K" FRAUD
UNVEILS NEW ONLINE RESOURCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Responding to reports that some older Americans have been victimized by crimes that play on fears of "the Y2K problem," Deputy Attorney General Eric H. Holder today unveiled Justice Department Web pages designed to help the public avoid Y2K scams. The new Web pages describe a number of illegal schemes that exploit fears of the Y2K bug, and propose ways for the public to respond to Y2K fraud.

For example, some criminals are taking advantage of worries that bank accounts will be inaccessible as of January 1, 2000. These schemes typically involve telemarketers pretending to be affiliated with a prospective victim's bank. The callers may ask for a bank account number, saying the victim's money can be moved into a 'safe account' or 'bond fund' to protect it from Y2K problems. Or they may ask for the victim's credit card number so that the victim can be sent a new magnetic strip that is supposedly 'Y2K compliant.'

Holder stressed that consumers should never give their bank account or credit card number to unknown callers because legitimate bank or credit card companies do not make calls asking for such information. Other schemes seek potential victims' social security numbers by posing as employees of the Social Security Administration . He pointed out that the schemes are not new - they are merely using the fear of Y2K to update their pitch to unsuspecting - and often elderly - targets.

"We may be entering the 21st century," said Holder, "but these schemes are just dressing up old-fashioned telemarketing fraud in high-tech clothing. But old fashioned or high tech -- telemarketing fraud is a federal crime with stiff penalties. Consumers who receive these kinds of calls should hang up and call law enforcement to report the call."

In addition to information about how to spot, report and protect yourself from Y2K fraud, the new DOJ web pages contain links to many online sources of information about Y2K issues. The Web pages can be found by accessing www.usdoj.gov and clicking on "What's New."

Further information about Y2K can be obtained from the Federal Trade Commission, which operates a toll-free Y2K hotline for people with questions about Y2K rumors or statements. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day, and information

specialists are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. [EST] to answer questions. The number is 1-888-USA-4-Y2K.



Like this post: 0

Offline theking

  • Elite Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 62384
  • Respect: +1361
    • View Profile
COVID:

Quote
A Desperate India Falls Prey to Covid Scammers
As the health care system fails, clandestine markets have emerged for drugs, oxygen, hospital beds and funeral services. Fake goods may be putting lives at risk.

NEW DELHI — Within the world’s worst coronavirus outbreak, few treasures are more coveted than an empty oxygen canister. India’s hospitals desperately need the metal cylinders to store and transport the lifesaving gas as patients across the country gasp for breath.

So a local charity reacted with outrage when one supplier more than doubled the price, to nearly $200 each. The charity called the police, who discovered what could be one of the most brazen, dangerous scams in a country awash with coronavirus-related fraud and black-market profiteering.

The police say the supplier — a business called Varsha Engineering, essentially a scrapyard — had been repainting fire extinguishers and selling them as oxygen canisters. The consequences could be deadly: The less-sturdy fire extinguishers might explode if filled with high-pressure oxygen.

“This guy should be charged with homicide,” said Mukesh Khanna, a volunteer at the charity. “He was playing with lives.” (The owner, now in jail, couldn’t be reached for comment.)



Like this post: 0

Offline theking

  • Elite Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 62384
  • Respect: +1361
    • View Profile
Oroville Dam:

Quote
Attorney General Xavier Becerra Issues Consumer Alert Concerning Price Gouging in Wake of Oroville Dam Auxiliary Spillway Incident

SACRAMENTO - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today issued a consumer alert concerning price gouging in the wake of the Oroville Dam Auxiliary Spillway Incident and related evacuations.

The Attorney General also warns donors to carefully vet anyone who is promising to help evacuees.  The Attorney General’s website provides valuable donor tips.  https://oag.ca.gov/donations

“California’s price gouging law protects people impacted by an emergency from illegal price gouging on gas, food, housing, and other essential supplies,” said Attorney General Becerra. “I urge hotels, gas stations, and other businesses operating in and around the evacuation area to understand and comply with the law, and I encourage anyone who has information regarding illegal price gouging to report it to our office.”

California’s anti-price gouging statute, Penal Code Section 396, becomes effective immediately after the Governor or a local official declares a state of emergency. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency related to the dam auxiliary spillway incident on February 12th, and the area is also subject to a storm-related disaster declaration that was issued in January.

California law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds, by more than 10%, the price of an item before the declaration of emergency. This law applies to those who sell food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials, and gasoline.  The law also applies to repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services, hotel accommodations, and rental housing.  There are limited exceptions to the law.

Businesses violating the price gouging law are subject to criminal prosecution, and the imposition of civil penalties, injunctive relief and restitution.  The Attorney General and local district attorneys can enforce the law.

Anyone who has been the victim of price gouging, or who has information regarding potential price gouging, is encouraged to immediately file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office by going to www.ag.ca.gov or by calling (800) 952-5225. 



Like this post: 0

Offline theking

  • Elite Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 62384
  • Respect: +1361
    • View Profile
Look at these monkeys...

Quote
Over 100 Arrested for Looting and Burgling: L.A. Wildfires




Like this post: 0

Offline theking

  • Elite Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 62384
  • Respect: +1361
    • View Profile
A family who lost everything in the Palisades Fire is now battling another kind of trauma after thieves stole their identities and filed a claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Los Angeles Times reported.




Like this post: 0

 

Advertisements