PALMDALE `LANDLORD' SUSPECTED OF FRAUD.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Sheriff's deputies have taken an unusual step of notifying renters not to pay their rent money.

Sheriff's deputies believe a Hesperia man has broken into at least 13 foreclosed homes, cleaned them up, changed the locks and then rented them under the name Windsor Pacific.

``He calls what he's doing adverse possession,'' said Jan Carroll, a fraud detective. ``We call it grand theft, burglary and trespassing.''

Officials said the man, who has not been charged, placed ads in newspapers seeking ``house sitters.''

Carroll said renters who pay to Windsor Pacific should discontinue paying rent and contact her at [phone]. If someone comes to collect rent, renters should call the Sheriff's Department, she said.

Deputies said they are still investigating the case.

According to Carroll, adverse possession concerns the situation in which a person moves into an abandoned home and lives in it for five years, while trying his best to contact the homeowners.

If the homeowners cannot be located within that time, the squatter can go to court and claim it as his own.

``He's not notifying anyone,'' Carroll said. ``He's not even living in the homes. He's charging people money and keeping it for his own.

``If his theory is correct, then you better not go on a long-term vacation. Otherwise, you may not have a house when you get back.''

Renting out foreclosed homes is not a new scam.

In February, Carolyn Williams, 40, of Palmdale was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, fraud and auto theft after sheriff's deputies said they found her living in a foreclosed home filled with expensive furnishings. At that time, officials believe she was also renting out other foreclosed homes.