Author: Danielle Antosz

Complaints of crimes and missing person reports on cruises that dock at U.S. ports have surged in recent years, fueling what one security expert calls a “dark cloud” over an industry eager to protect its reputation.

Department of Transportation figures show 48 alleged incidents between Jan. 1 and March 30 of this year: 23 reports of rape, 10 of other forms of sexual assault, seven of physical assault and seven of theft greater than $10,000. One missing U.S. national was also reported.

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There were also 47 alleged incidents in each of the first and third quarters of 2024, 50 in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 55 in the second quarter of 2023.

“All of that negative vibe and negative information puts a dark cloud over the industry,” Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service agent and lecturer on criminal justice at the University of New Haven, told Fox News in a story published May 15. Cruise lines “want [passengers] to be comfortable spending their money.”

A spokesperson for the Cruise Lines International Association told Fox News that “crime is extremely rare on cruise ships” thanks to strict security vetting and training that "make cruise[s] one of the safest holiday options.”

Are cruise ships more prone to crime?

A mixture of large groups of people, alcohol and the sense of freedom that comes with being on vacation can create an environment that’s more prone to illicit activity, says McDonald.

“Anytime we get together, those numbers are going to go up, whether that’s at a resort, whether it’s on a cruise ship,” he said.

Among recent reports:

On March 21, two men in their 30s were arrested, accused of raping a 14-year-old boy in a sauna aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, reports the Miami Herald. Both men were charged with sexual battery of a minor, exposing themselves to a minor and molestation of a child aged 12 to 16. One man faced an additional charge of not informing another person in a sexual act of his HIV status.

“We take these allegations very seriously and immediately notified local law enforcement,” a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told the Herald.

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A month later, dozens of Carnival Cruise Line passengers were banned after video of a brawl at a Galveston, Texas, terminal emerged on social media showing people kicking and punching one another as they disembarked, according to Fox News. Carnival told the news outlet the matter was referred to law enforcement, and stressed that the company “will not tolerate such behavior.”

How to protect yourself while on a cruise

While reports of alleged crime on the high seas may be elevated, some experts insist cruises remain a safe way to travel. If you choose to cruise, you can be proactive and make sure you understand the laws that can help keep you safe.

Know the laws for your ship

Jurisdiction on cruise ships is a constantly moving target that can change after a vessel moves away from shore. Within 12 nautical miles of the coast, the coastal nation’s criminal code typically applies; beyond 12 miles, the ship falls under the law of the country whose flag it flies. Maritime laws may also apply. Before you sail, make sure you understand which laws and regulations will apply during your trip.

Research cruise line safety records

Statistics for reports of alleged crimes of major cruise operators appear in quarterly Department of Transportation reports, and the CDC publishes sanitation scores for each ship. This can help you decide which cruise line and which ship you’re comfortable sailing on.

If you see something, say something

Cruise ships have internal emergency systems, including dedicated phone lines. Report suspicious behaviour immediately.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

The visit itself seems routine — the doctor arrives on time, mentions the word “screening” repeatedly, and discusses your medical history. However, a week later, you receive a shocking bill.

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Now, you’re left wondering whether you were misled, and how something billed as free could turn into such an expensive lesson.

Here’s what may have happened and what you can do about it.

How free screenings can turn into hefty bills

In the U.S. healthcare system, language matters, and so do billing codes. Just because your appointment was called a “free” exam, that didn’t guarantee it would remain one once you began speaking with a doctor or received other services like diagnostic tests.

If you discussed your symptoms, the visit no longer qualified as a preventive screening. Instead, it was coded as a diagnostic consultation, which typically isn’t covered without a referral, especially for specialists like urologists. That coding decision alone shifts the financial responsibility from the insurer to the patient.

While frustrating, this kind of situation isn’t uncommon. Preventive visits, such as screenings or wellness checks, are generally covered in full under insurance plans. However, when symptoms are discussed, new concerns are raised, or services are received, the appointment may be reclassified and billed differently.

“A preventive visit generally comes at no cost to patients. But a visit for an ongoing medical issue is usually classified as diagnostic, leaving the patient subject to copays and deductibles — or even charged for two separate appointments,” says a KFF Health News report. “Patients may not notice a difference in the exam room. Much of that nuance is determined by the medical provider and captured on the bill.”

For example, if you go in for a yearly check-up but then mention back pain, the appointment is no longer a wellness check, but a regular office visit. Patients rarely know this in advance, and clinics aren’t always transparent about how these distinctions are made. It can be even more complicated if you’re visiting a specialist who requires a referral from your primary care doctor. In the KFF Health News report, a patient who went in for an annual physical exam ending up owing $1,400 for lab services and pathology, plus $206.91 for “professional services.”

Whether this is considered false advertising depends on the specifics. If the clinic promoted a free screening but failed to disclose what might trigger additional charges or neglected to clarify what was included, it may be in murky legal territory.

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How to protect yourself from unexpected medical bills after a screening

Situations like this can be avoided, but you must remain vigilant. Here are a few ways you can minimize the risk of getting stuck with surprise bills:

• Get it in writing: Always save promotional emails and appointment confirmations, especially if the word “free” is used. These may help you challenge a charge later.

• Clarify what’s included: Before the visit, call the clinic and ask what the free screening covers. What might result in additional charges?

• Stay on message: If you’re going in for a free screening, don’t raise unrelated issues during the appointment unless you’re ready for a possible charge. If you have other symptoms, ask if mentioning them will result in additional charges before doing so.

• Dispute the bill: Request a detailed explanation of benefits (EOB) from your insurance provider, ask the clinic for a billing breakdown, and appeal the charge if necessary.

• File a complaint: If you feel misled, report the incident to your state’s medical board or consumer protection office.

• Check for retroactive options: Some insurers will accept a late referral from a primary care provider, which can help the bill get covered under your insurance plan.

Medical billing in the U.S. is notoriously complex, but being proactive, asking the right questions and holding onto documentation can help you protect your wallet.

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Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

If you’ve ever wanted the Disney-style experience without the lines, there’s a mansion in Utah that may have caught your eye. A 154-acre estate in Hyrum — Utah’s largest private residence — that went up for auction on June 13.

The sprawling home features more than 70,000 square feet of space, including a five-level, 10-bedroom main house, a Swiss Family Robinson-themed bunk room, a Disneyland Tiki Room replica, a Star Wars-style underground tunnel and a 65-seat theater modeled after Walt Disney World’s Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. Initially listed for $35 million, the price has since dropped to $19.5 million. Bidding for the home will open at $8 million.

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That has locals in Hyrum, a quiet Cache Valley community of around 10,000 residents, wondering who might want to live there.

“It was a big deal … in our little teeny Hyrum,” resident Kathy Schroeder told KSL-TV.

“People are kind of blown away by that because we’re kind of a rural, you know, kind of community. People don’t really expect that there.”

Disney-themed rooms, a pool barn and an underground racetrack

In addition to the main residence, the property includes a 27,000-square-foot unfinished pool barn, with plans for a massive swimming pool, an exercise center and 16-car garage — all connected by that 140-foot-long underground tunnel.

The home also includes an underground racetrack that circles the home’s footprint.

Other highlights include:

• Stunning mountain views.
• An expansive entryway with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams.
• Dining room with a 42-seat table.
• A nearly complete pond.
• Vaulted ceilings and ensuites in each bedroom.
• A guest house and well house.
• Event space.

The property listing also notes that the home sits just 15 minutes from the city of Logan and 75 minutes from Salt Lake City, near Blacksmith Fork Park and Hyrum Reservoir.

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How could this home impact Hyrum?

In spite of all these amenities, some residents remain skeptical about whether the home will sell at all.

“I don’t know who would want to buy it here,” local Adam Berger told KSL-TV. “It’s not Jackson Hole or like other places where millionaires go.”

That skepticism stems in part from Hyrum’s identity as a rural, working-class community, not a luxury destination. While nearby mountains and reservoirs offer outdoor appeal, the community lacks the kind of high-end restaurants, shopping or airport access typically found in luxury markets.

Mansions of this size are rare anywhere, but in small communities like Hyrum, they can have an outsized impact, both good and bad.

On the positive side, increased tax revenue for Hyrum could bring in a chunk of change for local services if the home is sold and reassessed. The estate could also be converted into a rental or event space to create local jobs and attract visitors. Finally, the buzz surrounding the sale could drive broader interest in Cache Valley properties.

On the negative side, a sale of this size could lead to market distortion. If the home goes for at or near $19.5 million, it could skew local home value comparisons and complicate appraisals of nearby properties.

The limited buyer pool for the property is also a risk factor. If it doesn’t sell, it may sit empty and remain unfinished. Some residents also worry new ultrawealthy neighbors may not integrate into the community and its small-town atmosphere.

Schroeder, who also runs the Cache Valley Buzz Instagram page, says she’s optimistic someone will make the most of the mansion’s potential.

“We just really want someone to buy it and make it a fun place where they can live and have vacations and things like that,” she said.

“They put a lot of time and effort into it … to make it a really family fun kind of place.”

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It’s enough to leave any adult child fuming with frustration. You agreed to cosign a car loan for your parents with normal expectations — a limit on how much they’d spend, say $23,000, and an understanding you’d actually get to sign the loan. You hand over your information to help with initial paperwork, then you get shut out — by both your parents and the dealer.

Now you learn the dealer upsold your parents by $10,000 and they agreed to a loan with a terrible rate.

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Most disturbingly, you’re listed as a cosigner even though you didn’t sign any paperwork. Are you legally on the hook for this loan?

Yo-Yo Financing

Your parents may have been duped by “yo-yo financing” — a technique underhanded salespeople use to hook people into costly car loans.

It starts as something that appears to be win-win: spot delivery. As Capital One explains, spot delivery plays to would-be buyers’ desire for immediate gratification, as a dealer lets customers leave the lot with a new car before financing is actually finalized.

That’s when the allure of spot delivery can turn into the less savoury ‘yo-yo financing,’ a kind of bait-and-switch.

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The seller gives buyers the impression that loan terms are set, and lets them drive off. Then the seller contacts the buyers later saying they tried to finalize the loan at the quoted rate and couldn’t — so the finalized loan comes with a higher rate.

If the buyers can’t afford the rate, they have to return the car or risk having it repossessed or reported as stolen. Or they may think they have to take a loan they might not be able to afford.

What many buyers don’t realize in these ‘yo-yo financing’ cases is that they are not obligated to uphold any loan terms the dealer imposes.

The deal isn’t actually finalized. If all parties — including an unsigned cosigner — can’t agree to the terms, the dealer must either rewrite the deal or unwind it completely and take the car back.

But you’re still exposed to some risks as a cosigner, even an unsigned one.

The legal responsibilities and risks of being a cosigner

In this situation, you would be a "ghost" cosigner. Whether you sign or not, having your name as a co-signer on a loan comes with several risks, including:

Identity and credit exposure. Even without a signature, the dealer has a cosigner’s full name, address, license number, and likely their Social Security number. That’s enough to run a hard inquiry and open an auto‑loan application in their name. A single hard pull can shave a few points off your credit score, while a loan that actually goes through — and later defaults — can torch it for years. 

Liability if the dealer “pushes it through.” Submitting forged or “ghost” signatures is illegal, but it happens. If the lender funds the contract before the fraud is caught, the cosigner becomes jointly liable for the entire balance. Federal law requires lenders to give cosigners a special notice describing that liability, but many don’t see it until the first bill arrives. 

No automatic right to return the car. There is no federal cooling‑off period for buying a vehicle. Once financing is approved and contracts are executed, the sale is final unless the dealer offers a written return policy or state law allows a cancellation window. Most do not. 

No automatic right to use the car. Cosigners share the debt but not the keys. Unless the contract spells out ownership or usage rights, you’re on the hook for payments without any legal claim to drive the vehicle. That also means if the other party defaults on the loan, you can’t just take the car back and use it yourself, unless the contract gives you that permission.

Big picture: Cosigning ties your credit and cash flow to a car you may never touch — often a lopsided deal at best. That is why it’s important to know what you’re getting into.

How to avoid becoming a co-signer on a risky deal

Avoid cosigning unless you trust the person implicitly or are financially able to take over the terms of the loan.

If you do decide to co-sign on a car loan, here’s how to protect yourself:

• Set ground rules in writing. Agree on the maximum purchase price, loan term, and add‑ons before sharing your personal info and make it clear that you must review every document before signing.
• Never text or email your license image. A photo is enough for a lender pull. Hand it over only when you’re physically present to sign.
• Consider getting lender preapproval. Walking in with a credit-union-approved deal forces the dealer to beat or match a firm offer and eliminates spot‑delivery surprises.
• Stay for the entire financing process. Finance offices move fast; being in the chair lets you refuse extras like extended warranties, service contracts, or nitrogen‑filled tires that inflate the price.
• Read (and keep) the Truth‑in‑Lending disclosures. As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains, the federal Truth in Lending Act, or TILA, requires dealers to provide you with a full TILA disclosure outlining APR, total finance charges, amount financed, and payment schedule before you sign anything. 
• Know when to say no. Cosigning can help loved ones, but you shoulder equal liability for late payments, repossession costs, and deficiency balances. If you can’t comfortably afford to make the payments, walk away. 

Being a cosigner is more than a formality; it’s a threat to your credit, wallet and relationships.

Next time, keep the paperwork — and the keys — on hold until every T is crossed and every I is dotted.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

A scammer pretending to be a construction vendor tricked the Citrus County School Board in Inverness, Florida, into sending more than $800,000 to the wrong bank account. The fraud wasn’t discovered until the real vendor called to say they hadn’t received their payment.

According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, $846,864.86 was intended for a trusted vendor who was working on a construction project for the school district. However, the money was wired to a fraudster’s account after they sent a fake—but convincing—email that resembled the vendor’s usual messages.

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“This was an email from someone pretending to be the vendor that looked exactly like what the vendor would’ve sent,” said Dr. Scott Hebert, Superintendent of Schools, in an interview with WFLA.

How the scam worked

According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, the fraudster copied the vendor’s email address and made it look nearly identical to the real one. They also included a fake bank account number for payment. The scam worked because the email was so well-crafted that it didn’t raise immediate red flags.

“A malicious actor will come in and change one or two characteristics of a URL address or an email link—something that doesn’t totally appear correct,” said Detective Cutlip with the CCSO High-Tech Crimes Unit. “At first glance, if you’re having correspondence, you wouldn’t pick up all those changes.”

Once school officials realized what had happened, they immediately contacted law enforcement. The sheriff’s office worked with the U.S. Secret Service to track the money, which had already been split between two bank accounts outside of Florida.

Thanks to that quick response, investigators were able to freeze and recover about 92% of the funds—roughly $779,600. More than $67,000 was still missing, and the investigation remains ongoing.

In the wake of the scam, the Citrus County School District is implementing new safety measures. Dr. Hebert said all district employees are getting extra cybersecurity training, and new protocols are being developed to help staff detect and respond to cyber threats in the future.

“Disciplinary action will occur,” Hebert told WFLA. “Those folks that were involved… will be held accountable for not following any of the procedures that we had in place.”

Depending on the findings of an internal investigation, that discipline could range from further training to suspension or termination.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

How to protect yourself or your business from phishing scams

This type of scam, often called business email compromise or phishing, is becoming increasingly common. To avoid falling victim to these scams, here are a few steps you can take:

Double-check email addresses

Scammers often change just one character in an email to make it look real. For example, "gadams[at]adamsconstruction.com" might become "gadams[at]adamsconstructi0n.com."

Verify payment information before you hit ‘send’

If a vendor emails new bank details or says their payment info has changed, call them using a known phone number—not one listed in the email—to confirm.

Be cautious about any last-minute changes

If someone suddenly requests changes to a scheduled payment, closing date, or account number, take extra steps to verify that the changes are legitimate. It’s always better to take a few extra minutes to verify then to fall victim to a scam.

Train your team

Make sure everyone who handles money or emails with vendors knows what phishing scams look like and how to report them. This includes following the steps listed here and knowing not to click on links or download files from unknown sources.

Contact law enforcement immediately if you suspect fraud

One reason the school board was able to get most of the money back was because they reported the scam right away. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovering lost funds.

As this case shows, even experienced professionals can fall for a scam when the attack is sophisticated. But by staying alert and putting clear procedures in place, businesses and individuals can better protect themselves from financial fraud.

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Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Suppose you’re 24 and earning a steady salary for the first time in your life.

Your goal is clear: save $10,000 per year and eventually buy a house. But like many in their 20s, you’re unsure whether you should prioritize retirement savings or homeownership.

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Max out my IRA now or put all my savings toward buying a home? It’s a question increasingly common among young adults navigating early financial decisions.

It’s not a stupid question at all. In fact, it’s a smart one — and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Here’s a closer look at the tradeoffs of investing in retirement early versus saving aggressively for a home.

Pros and cons of maxing your IRA

Opening and contributing to an IRA in your early 20s is one of the most powerful moves you can make for your long-term financial security. Thanks to the magic of compound growth, even small contributions made early can grow into significant savings by retirement.

Upsides of maxing your IRA

• Early growth = less pressure later. A dollar saved in your 20s has decades to grow. For example, if you invest $6,000 at age 24 and earn an average annual return of 7%, that single contribution could grow to nearly $45,000 by the time you’re 65.

• Tax benefits. Depending on the type of IRA you choose, you could see tax advantages now (traditional IRA) or in retirement (Roth IRA).

• Flexibility with Roth IRAs. If you choose a Roth IRA, you can withdraw your contributions (not your earnings) at any time without taxes or penalties. That gives you some wiggle room if you later decide to use the money for a down payment.

That said, using an IRA as a piggy bank for home savings isn’t ideal — and comes with major risks.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Downsides of maxing your IRA

• Market volatility. Unlike a high-yield savings account, your IRA is invested in the market. If you plan to buy a home in the next few years, a market decline could drop your savings just when you need them. Remember, with investments, you don’t truly "lose" money until you withdraw.

• Retirement money should stay retirement money. Even if you technically can pull Roth contributions early, you shouldn’t unless you absolutely have to — if, say, you’re facing eviction or medical emergencies. The earlier you raid retirement accounts, the harder it is to rebuild your savings.

• Complex withdrawal rules. While the IRS does allow you to withdraw up to $10,000 from an IRA for a first-time home purchase without penalty, it only applies under certain conditions and may still involve taxes.

The takeaway? An IRA is a powerful tool for long-term financial growth but it’s not a substitute for a short-term house fund. Use it to set up your future, not to float your present.

Other factors to consider

Before deciding whether to max out your IRA or focus on a home down payment, it’s important to look at the full financial picture. Buying a house matters but so does your financial foundation.

• 1. Do you have an emergency fund? If you don’t have at least three months of expenses saved, hitting pause on both home and retirement savings might be smart. An emergency fund protects you from dipping into retirement accounts or taking on debt when life throws you a curveball.

• 2. What’s your timeline for buying a home? If your goal is to buy a house in the next three years, your savings strategy should be conservative. A high-yield savings account or short-term CD may be better than investing the money, since it avoids market risk. But if homeownership is five or more years away, splitting your savings between a Roth IRA and a house fund could make sense.

• 3. Are you carrying high-interest debt? Paying down credit cards or other high-interest loans can offer a guaranteed return — often more than you’d earn investing. It also improves your credit score, which can impact the mortgage rate you’ll pay when you do buy a home.

• 4. Are you taking advantage of employer retirement plans? If your job offers a 401(k) match, prioritize that before the IRA. It’s essentially free money your employer is contributing to your retirement. After that, any leftover savings can be divided based on your goals.

• 5. Why is buying a home important to you? Buying a home is a major milestone, but it’s not the only one. Saving for retirement in your 20s means you won’t have to play catch-up later. On the flip side, if owning a home will provide stability, reduce rent costs, or serve as a stepping stone toward building equity, it may be worth focusing on.

Ultimately, there’s no perfect answer. But if you’re asking these questions now, that’s not a sign you’re on the right track.

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• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

California prosecutors have filed a civil complaint in San Diego County Superior Court against Pacific Magazine Billing LP and a network of related entities, accusing them of sending millions of deceptive mailers that misled residents into thinking they owed money for magazine renewals they never ordered.

The lawsuit names Pacific Magazine Billing LP, several affiliated companies and individual Steven Vande Vegte as defendants. Prosecutors from six counties joined California Attorney General Rob Bonta in bringing the case, which seeks an injunction, restitution and civil penalties for what officials call “widespread” violations of consumer protection laws.

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At the heart of the case are mailers that prosecutors say looked nearly identical to legitimate bills.

How did the mailers trick consumers?

According to the complaint, the mailers often included names of specific magazines, subscription pricing, reference numbers and phrases like “Notice of Renewal/New Order Offer.”

Visually, the documents resembled real invoices but didn’t include the clear legal disclaimers required by state and federal law. Under the law, any solicitation that could be mistaken for a bill must clearly state, in bold and conspicuous type, that the document is not a bill but a solicitation.

A June 2024 amendment to Section 1170 of the California Civil Code reads:

“THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS OFFER.”

The required language must appear in at least 18-point bold type and in the language used in the solicitation.

Prosecutors allege that Pacific Magazine Billing’s notices failed to meet this requirement, which they say put consumers — especially older adults — at risk of paying for subscriptions they never wanted or needed.

The lawsuit cites violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law and seeks civil penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation, an injunction to stop the practice and an order that those affected be paid back.

Ads disguised as invoices have been reported in states across the country, including New York, Oregon, Illinois, Arkansas and Massachusetts. The Better Business Bureau has warned consumers for years to be on alert for these deceptive mailers. Their advice: Always question an invoice, especially if you didn’t order the product or don’t recognize the company.

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How to avoid misleading mailers

Consumer advocates have sounded the alarm about deceptive ads for years, with complaints frequently reported to the Better Business Bureau and other regulatory agencies. Similar scams often target seniors or frequent magazine readers, relying on confusion to collect payments.

Officials recommend the following steps if you receive what looks like a magazine subscription invoice:

• Read the fine print: Look for language like “This is a solicitation” or “This is not a bill.” If it is missing or buried in tiny type, treat it with suspicion.
• Verify the sender: If the company name doesn’t match the magazine’s publisher, that’s a red flag.
• Compare to past bills: Unsure if a renewal is legit? Compare the document to a previous subscription bill.
• Contact the magazine directly: Use the official website to reach customer service and confirm whether you owe anything.
• Beware of urgency: Phrases like “final notice” or “act now” are pressure tactics to get you to pay without reviewing details.

If you think you’ve received a deceptive bill, don’t pay until you confirm it’s legitimate. If it’s not, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and your state attorney general. Posting a review on the Better Business Bureau’s website can help warn others.

Steven Vande Vegte has declined to comment on this matter. The lawsuit is moving forward and could result in financial penalties, repayment to affected individuals and a court order shutting down the mailers for good.

In the meantime, staying skeptical can save you money. A careful look at your mail can go a long way to keep you safe.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

A San Diego judge has ordered Lisa Golden to stay at least 100 yards away from her Ocean View Hills home after two suspicious fires and the disappearance of a $200,000 insurance payout reports CBS 8 San Diego.

Neighbors say the home on Mariner Drive has been a source of stress and fear for years due to hoarding, harassment and repeated court violations. Golden, who previously lived at the residence, is now legally barred from the property amid allegations she continues to trespass despite previous stay-away orders.

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Residents told reporters that Golden screamed at children, threatened news crews and let the property fall into dangerous disrepair. After she failed to comply with multiple court-issued cleanup orders, the court appointed a receiver to take control of the property and prepare it for sale.

Years of issues and refusal to clean up

In California, a court cleanup order can be issued when a property becomes a public nuisance due to severe neglect, code violations or hoarding. If a homeowner fails to comply with city cleanup notices, the court can assign a receiver — an independent third party authorized to take control of the property, perform repairs and, in some cases, sell it to recover costs.

But the receiver’s cleanup efforts at the Mariner Drive home didn’t go smoothly. CBS 8 reported that fires broke out on the exact days crews were scheduled to remove debris. Police have not named a suspect in either blaze, but neighbors claim to have seen Golden at the property around the time of the fires, in defiance of court orders.

"She had promised that if anyone were to take that house away from her, she would burn it down,” neighbor Eddie Mead told reporters after the second fire. “Thus, I believe it’s her. She’s dangerous. I just call her a violent criminal.”

During a court hearing, Deputy City Attorney David Miller told the judge that $200,000 in insurance money from the first fire has vanished. The payout was issued to Golden’s ex-boyfriend, Jeffrey Rogers, who is on the mortgage. Authorities have not confirmed what happened to the funds or whether Golden had access to them.

After the second fire, the judge approved slashing the sale price of the home by $92,000, bringing it to about $500,000 — about half of what similar properties in the area sell for. To secure the residence, CBS 8 reports that officials have installed metal panels over all doors and windows and posted 24-hour security on site.

Golden, who appeared virtually at the hearing, argued that she still needed access to retrieve her belongings.

“We are trying to do this the right way, and the receiver is completely thwarting every effort for me to get clothing that I need and my personal supplies,” she told the judge.

The court ruled that Golden must work through her attorney and a third party to arrange the retrieval of her items, but she herself must maintain the 100-yard distance.

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Plagued by problem neighbors? Here’s what you can do

Lisa Golden’s case is extreme, but not unique. Neighbors in Ocean View Hills told reporters that they felt unsafe and unheard for years before officials stepped in. If you’re dealing with a similar situation, here are steps you can take:

• Document everything. Keep a record of incidents, including dates, photos, and witness statements. If you don’t currently have security cameras, consider installing them.

• Report code violations. In California, you can file complaints with your local code enforcement office for issues like hoarding, pest infestations and unsafe structures.

• Contact police for harassment. If a neighbor is threatening or harassing you, file a report. Repeated incidents may qualify for a restraining order.

• Work with your homeowners association (HOA) or city official. Organized pressure from a neighborhood group can push officials to act more quickly.

• Petition the court. As seen in this case, city attorneys and residents may petition the court to appoint a receiver when all else fails.

Golden’s next court hearing is scheduled for June 13, reports CBS 8. Until then, neighbors hope the judge’s latest order brings some peace.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.