Here’s an odd story from the Bay Area. A man who says his house was “sold without his knowledge” to a bank after he signed a “deal” to prevent foreclosure has trashed the property — spray painting a message to the new owner.

The words painted on a wall near the front door are hard to make out but it appears to declare: “Brought to you by Deutsche Bank… Eat it.”

Details are sketchy, but NBC says:

Williams said his financial troubles began when he got behind on his mortgage payments then signed a deal that promised to help him stay in his home. The deal failed.

Just last week, Williams said he found out that his home had been sold without his knowledge to a bank and he had to get out.

The front yard of Williams’ home is strewn with boxes, furniture and trash cans. There’s even some of the home’s air conditioning duct work lying on the lawn. That’s not the only part of the property left in shambles. The inside of the house is just as messy.

Obviously, we have no idea what really happened, but it sounds like Mr. Williams may have fallen victim to a foreclosure “rescue” scam. The FTC says:

Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief and then fail to deliver. Their goal is to make a quick profit through fees or mortgage payments they collect from you, but do not pass on to the lender. Sometimes, they assume ownership of your property by deceiving you, the homeowner. Then, when it’s too late to save your home, they take the property or siphon off the equity. You’ve lost your home to foreclosure despite your best intentions.

Whatever the real story is, the house is in pretty bad shape.

If you’re facing foreclosure, be sure to acquaint yourself with rescue scams and avoid them. If you’ve been taken in by such a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General. If you’re looking for help with your mortgage, the FTC recommends first contacting your lender. If you need more assistance, they also recommend speaking with a credit counselor through the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF), a nonprofit organization that operates the national 24/7 toll-free hotline (1.888.995.HOPE) with free, personalized assistance to help at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure.

Take This Home And Shove It [NBC Bay Area via Buzzfeed]

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