TAMPA, Fla. — Bambi Jones thought she had found the perfect home for her and her two grandchildren to move into in Pinellas Park. She signed a lease and, over the weekend, moved in after putting down a lot of money.

What You Need To Know

  • Bambi Jones signed a lease with someone named Adam Joseph

  • The property is actually managed by Progress Residential

  • The bogus lease was for $1,055/month in rent

  • Progress Residential wants $2,225/month for rent

“It’s $1,055 per month," she said. "First, last (month’s rent) and security deposit. I gave him first and last and I have an arrangement to give him the security deposit on (Aug.) 15th.”

On Tuesday, while she was registering her kids in school, according to a case report, Jones got a call from Pinellas Park police that turned her dream home into a nightmare.

“They said that I was a victim of a scam, because the guy that was here with the police, they said he’s the real property manager," Jones said.

It turns out, according to police, that she signed a lease and paid rent to a person who didn't own the home.

Apparently, she's not alone. According to the Better Business Bureau, 13 Floridians have fallen victim to rental scams so far this year, costing them $4,180. What makes matters even worse for Jones and her family is that she says the real property managers of her home are giving her a fast-approaching deadline to move out.

“(Progress Residential) says they're going put up a no trespass and they will put my belongings out on the street tomorrow," Jones said.

This is an image of the lease Jones signed with someone that didn't actually own the home in question. (Trevor Pettiford/Spectrum Bay News 9)

Spectrum News reached out to officials at Progress Residential, the property management company, and they replied in an email, stating, “While we don't comment on specific cases, we make every effort to support these victims of rental fraud by providing an opportunity to directly work with Progress staff to apply for and rent the home they want."

But Jones said they want more than double the amount of rent. She agreed to pay on the bogus lease. She says she can't afford the higher rent, and since she works from home, if this situation isn't cleared up soon, she said she could lose more than just a place to live.

“There’s the possibility I could lose my job ‘cause I can’t work," she said.

A GoFundMe page has been established to help Jones and her family, with a goal of $7,000.

GoFundMe.com, or any other third-party online fundraiser, is not managed by Spectrum Bay News 9 or Spectrum News 13. For more information on how GoFundMe works and its rules, visit http://www.gofundme.com/safety.