Homeowner stunned to discover family living in renovated property he was getting ready to sell

Daily Mail​

11-06-2025

A family who thought they were moving into their dream home were shocked to find out they had fallen for a 'squatter scam'.
Homeowner Mike Haskell believed he was just hours away from finalizing the sale of his newly renovated home in Windsor Mill, Baltimore.
But what began as a routine real estate transaction suddenly turned into a housing nightmare which turned out to be a sham.
The day before closing the deal, Haskell received a phone call from a prospective buyer that upended everything.
He told a local news outlet: 'The buyer last night drove by and saw a moving truck in the driveway. They thought it was maybe being unstaged for advertising. I said, "No, that was done way earlier. There should be nobody there".'
When Haskell raced to the house, he saw a U-Haul van parked in the driveway, the locks had changed, and the for-sale sign had suddenly been removed.
Inside, a couple and their two small children had been living comfortably for at least a week and claimed they had a legal right to be there - despite Haskell owning the property.
According to the couple, they moved in after finding the property through an ad posted on social media offering access to a so-called 'last resort' home for a one-time payment of just $7,500 in cash.
The pair said they met the poster of the advert outside the Windsor Mill property, handed over the money, and signed what appeared to be a lease.
The family moved in claiming they were completely unaware that their lease was in fact worthless.
The family ultimately acknowledged they were 'unlawfully occupying' the home and that their presence had jeopardized Haskell's pending sale.
When Haskell called Baltimore County Police, he expected swift action but officers classified the situation a civil matter, despite there being clear signs of fraudulent entry.
According to the official report, the case was treated not as a criminal offense, but as a landlord-tenant dispute.
Civil courts are often the only recourse for homeowners facing unauthorized occupation, and the legal process to remove squatters can drag on for months or years, even for those with fake or nonexistent leases.
Attorney Bruce Ailion said: 'It is currently more difficult to get squatters out than getting a delinquent tenant out.'
'The key to protecting yourself from squatters is preventing them from entering in the first place,' Ailion added, urging property owners to invest in cameras, high-grade locks, and regular surveillance.
What makes the case especially alarming is the organized nature of the scam.
Victims who are often vulnerable families in desperate need of housing are asked to pay lump sums in cash in exchange for fraudulent documents and access to homes they do not legally control.
Haskell said: 'These are not isolated incidents. They know who the scammer is, and I'm not quite sure why an arrest has not been made.'
He claims the woman who showed the property to the couple is actively orchestrating similar scams across the county. Despite her alleged involvement in multiple cases, she has not been charged.
'I want to see law enforcement, prosecutors, and government officials hold these people accountable,' Haskell added.
Desperate to salvage the sale of his home, Haskell ultimately agreed to a 'cash for keys' deal, a controversial tactic in which a property owner pays the unauthorized occupants to leave quietly. He handed over $3,000 in cash to the couple, who then agreed to vacate.
At one point, the man who was illegally occupying the home reportedly asked Haskell: 'It would be nice if I could get compensated something… like a hotel? Something? Money?'
David Metzger, a real estate attorney, advises sellers to proceed with caution.
He said: 'As soon as you list a home for sale or lease, invest in cameras and security systems.'