A real estate broker discovered strangers living in what was supposed to be an unoccupied home she was trying to sell on behalf of the owners.

Realtor, Melissa Case was hired by Debra Stewart to sell her property through a short sale. Upon arriving at the property Case found two individuals were already living there. Anthony Loquiao and Gayalea Risley claim they paid a deposit and signed a one-year lease agreement with another Realtor for the home in October. Loquiao and Risley now believe they may have been duped.

Case took action against the squatters, and the parties ended up in court. Contra Costa Commissioner Lowell Richards told the couple they were probably the victims of a scam, but were in a precarious position as it wouldn’t take much for the homeowner to have them removed.

Case claims she tried to help the squatters out in an effort to get more information, however says the two were suspect and would not cooperate nor show her a copy of the lease agreement. The homeowner had reached out to PG&E to turn off the utilities and water.

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