Family kicked out of Lehigh Acres home after being duped in rental scam

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LEHIGH ACRES, Fla.- A family of five was kicked out of their dream home, just days after moving in.

They say they were the victims of a devastating rental scam that has forced them to the streets.

Two Lee County deputies showed up to the home Thursday afternoon and told the family they had to leave.

Raul Gil, his wife Lezlie Garcia and their three young children moved into the house ten days ago. They used all their savings moving to Lehigh Acres from Miami.

It turns out the man who told them he was the owner, a man using the name Robert Whitaker, was not the real owner.

Garcia says on April 16 they met with Whitaker at the home on Edgerton Avenue and paid him $1,950 in cash for a deposit and first month’s rent. She says he gave them two keys to the house and had them sign what is presumably a fake lease.

They haven’t seen the man since. According to the Lee County Property Appraiser website, the home is owned by a husband and wife from New Jersey, Robert and Michele Frey. According to Garcia, Michele told her they had to be out by 3 p.m. Thursday.

“This is a police matter, and I have no further comment,” said Chuck Hughes, a realtor with Coldwell Banker. Hughes was at the property Thursday on behalf of the Freys to make sure the family left.

“We paid rent here man, we paid rent. We tried looking for help for days, but they just come and kick us out like that. We have nowhere to go, I’m gonna wait right here, he said if I don’t leave the property he was gonna arrest me,” said Gil, in tears.

Most of the family’s belongings are still inside the house. A deputy told the family they could go back in and get their items later but the realtor has to be present.

A neighbor has put the family up in a hotel Thursday night.

If you’d like to help the family, contact Lezlie Garcia at 305-244-2723.

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