Fake brokers ran South Florida rental scam, cops say; detectives seek additional victims

SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. – Two men scammed a pistillate retired of $1,800 aft claiming to beryllium existent property brokers who could assistance her determination into a caller apartment, South Miami constabulary said.

But constabulary said the pistillate was ne'er capable to determination successful due to the fact that determination was nary apartment.

Joshua Jeshurun Harrison, 37, of Miami, and Jose Adolfo Lopez, 29, of Chicago, are present facing 3 felony charges each.

According to an apprehension report, the pistillate archetypal met Harrison, whom she knew arsenic “Joshua Herrera,” astatine the Empire Lounge disconnected U.S. 1 and casual speech became a “daily friendship.”

Authorities said successful May, the unfortunate complained of an insect infestation astatine her existent flat and said she planned to determination out.

“During a speech astatine the lounge, (Harrison) claimed to beryllium a licensed existent property broker with entree to aggregate properties, including units astatine a analyzable referred to arsenic Modera,” the study states. “(He) advised the unfortunate that she would request to terminate her existing lease earlier proceeding. After doing so, she was shown integer photographs of a Modera flat and informed that her exertion was successful process.”

Police said Harrison past claimed determination were “delays” with the Modera paperwork but offered to location her temporarily astatine an Airbnb helium owned disconnected Southwest 59th Place.

“The unfortunate moved into the portion but began experiencing issues with the physics doorway code, which repeatedly locked her out,” the study states.

Police said the pistillate contacted Airbnb enactment and a typical told her, “I told Jose that if nary outgo was made, the doorway would beryllium deactivated.”

“The unfortunate past contacted Modera apartments straight and was informed that neither (Harrison) nor (Lopez) were affiliated with the analyzable and that nary rental exertion had been submitted successful her name,” the study states.

The pistillate asked for a refund, constabulary said, but got nary of the $1,800 she sent the men back.

Police arrested Harrison and Lopez connected Wednesday. They’re facing charges of communications fraud, expansive theft and acting arsenic a existent property broker without a license.

Harrison is besides facing a communications fraud lawsuit retired of West Miami, tribunal records show. Local 10 News has requested a transcript of the apprehension study successful that lawsuit for further details.

South Miami constabulary deliberation the 2 whitethorn person targeted much victims. They asked anyone who thinks they were a unfortunate oregon has accusation to telephone 305-663-6301 oregon Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers astatine 305-471-8477.

As of Thursday, Harrison was being held connected a $5,000 enslaved portion Lopez was acceptable to enslaved retired from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, records show.

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