2 arrested in housing rental scam

Two people are behind bars in Seminole County for duping potential renters out of thousands of dollars.

Natasha Ortiz and David Rivas were arrested for posing as realtors and renting out foreclosed properties in Winter Park that they did not own.

Investigators said they found the homes, broke into them, changed the locks and then advertised the homes on Craigslist as "for rent."

While posing as a realtor for Sunrise Property Management, Ortiz met with interested families and collected more than $2,700 in cash for security deposits and first month's rent.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office has been investigating the couple since February and believes others may have also been scammed.

Anyone who may have rented other properties from Ortiz and Rivas should contact the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at (407) 665-6650.

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