More renters claim phony-landlord scam

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - After KRQE News 13 reported on a phony landlord renting foreclosed homes as his own property more people are coming forward claiming they've been scammed.

At least six people now have told News 13 that Ernest Garcia, who also is known as Ricardo Lombardy, offered to rent homes to them.

Three women interviewed for Thursday's report said Garcia took deposits and rent for homes that were vacant from foreclosures. Two of the women said Garcia took money from them separately for the same house.

The third renter described a real estate agent telling her to get out of her home after she'd paid Garcia $1,000.

The renters said Garcia would go to the back of the house and let them in the front door after apparently breaking in through the back.

They say once he collected the money for a deposit or rent, he then gave them the slip.

On Friday Angela Avila told News 13 she paid Garcia $150 and was about to pay him $400 more.

But after seeing Thursday's report she instead filed a report with Albuquerque police. Detectives are compiling all the complaints that now number a dozen so people who say Garcia scammed them.

"I'm just so upset with him. I just hope somebody does something about it because he's hurting a lot of families out there."

Homeowner Justin Ledoux also got caught up in the alleged scam. A worker at his home said Garcia showed up last week intending to show the home to a potential renter.

The worker chased him away.

"He took off running down Menaul, and they put chase to him and got some license plate numbers," Ledoux said. Police were not able to catch up to him that night.

Some of the people caught up in the scam reported they got involved by responding to flyers posted in laundromats advertising homes for rent.