DELTONA, FL — A Volusia County couple is speaking out after falling victim to a rental scam that cost them nearly $4,000 and left them without a home just days before their wedding.
Michael Rios and Lindsey Russo thought they had found the perfect place to begin their life together. After connecting with a man online who claimed to own a property on Azora Drive, they began touring what they believed would become their new home.
The man, posing as the landlord, initially said the first property was unavailable, then redirected the couple to another home he claimed to own. Over the following weeks, he stayed in constant communication with the couple, providing them with an entry passcode to tour the home multiple times.
Russo explained that he began asking for installments of the first month’s rent, and the couple eventually sent nearly $4,000 in payments.
On move-in day, the couple arrived with their belongings—only to discover that someone else was already living in the house.
“I turn and there’s a husky inside the sliding glass door, and my heart immediately sank,” Russo said. The home also had personal belongings and decorations, signaling it was clearly occupied.
Once confronted with the reality of the situation, the scammer cut off all contact. The phone number he had been using was disconnected.
Authorities believe the scammer may have used a self-tour feature from a home leasing website to gain access to the lock system, and then misused it to give the couple access during tours.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation but has not yet confirmed the identity of the suspect or if there are additional victims.
Rios and Russo are now turning to the public for support, launching a GoFundMe campaign to recover from their financial loss.
