CHANDLER, AZ -- After her husband lost her job, Ava Padilla said she was looking for a solution because they couldn't afford to keep the home they were renting.
"I'm concerned there are other victims," said Padilla. "I have a 3-year-old baby boy and I'm not going to have nowhere to live tomorrow."
She said the man who posted an ad on Craigslist told her the deal was legitimate.
For $500 down, her family could live rent free in a foreclosed home for 6 to 18 months.
"He said pay $250 first and then you pay the other $250 once we release the keys to you," said Padilla.
All he said she needed to do was find a vacant home from a list he gave her.
So, in good faith, she gave him the $250 up front.
After she received the list, she realized there were some problems with it because either the phone numbers were disconnected or worse, "The people were yelling and screaming, 'How did you get my number, our house is not for sale.'"
Initially, she said she was scared because she had to sign a contract swearing to keep the deal secret from family and friends.
All of this is now part of a police report and a complaint turned in to the attorney general's office.
The attorney general's office tells ABC15 this story has several serious warning signs including the secrecy, money up front and the fact they would be living in a foreclosure without a rental agreement.
