Sheriff: Increase In Fraudulent Evictions

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
KERO 23 TV

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Civil Section of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said it has noticed an increase in the number of fraudulent evictions in recent months.

Generally, this involves a landlord that does not wish to spend the money or time to follow the legal requirements of an eviction so they forge Court and/or Sheriff documents in an effort to trick the tenant into thinking they have been lawfully evicted.

These documents can be personally served, mailed or posted at the residence. The “Notice to Vacate” is a legal document that will give a tenant between 5 and 7 days to vacate the residence. The form will also include instructions on how to contest the action.

This is the last notice of a Court process called an Unlawful Detainer. The “Notice to Vacate” will not be the first notification you have of a pending eviction.

If you receive a “Notice to Vacate” or other legal document that was not personally served by the Sheriff’s Office, and you suspect it is fraudulent, you can call the Sheriff’s Civil Section at 635-1300 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to confirm that there is an open case. There should be a Sheriff file number on the form. Please have that number available when you call.

The State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, has published a very informative booklet entitled “A guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities.”

The booklet is available at no charge from the State of California Web site, https://www.achhd.org/documents/California-Tenants-Guide.pdf

 

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