Svetlana Kusina Rental Scam Alert - denied access on move-in day. received partial refunds in small increments. The property was later removed from the market entirely. Camano Island Washington

Rental Scam Warning: My Experience on Camano Island

I want to share my personal experience so that others don’t go through what I did.

The rental property was listed at 1517 SE Camano Dr, Camano Island, WA 98282. The people I dealt with were:

Kuzina (Svetlana I.)

Henryk T. Jakuboski

Irina Svetlana

At first, everything seemed legitimate. I applied for the rental and was quickly approved. After approval, I was asked to pay the deposit and first month’s rent. I complied in good faith, believing I would soon move into the home.

But that never happened.

What Happened Next

Denied Access: On the scheduled move-in date, I was not allowed into the home.

Partial Refunds Only: When I pushed for a refund, I received money back slowly — in increments of about $500 at a time — but I never got the full amount returned.

House Taken Off Market: At one point, the listing disappeared entirely.

You can see where they had it listed, then after ripping me off, they removed it the next day.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1517-SE-Camano-Dr-Camano-Island-WA-98282/2077719608_zpid/

Police Reports: The situation escalated to the point where the police were called several times. Instead of resolving things, I was even reported as if I were trying to break into the house, despite having already paid.

This has been one of the most frustrating and stressful experiences I’ve had as a renter.

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m not claiming to know the intentions of the people involved. What I do know is my experience: I paid money, I was not allowed to move in, I received only partial refunds, and I was treated like a trespasser after following their instructions.

The Red Flags I Missed

Looking back, there were warning signs I wish I had paid more attention to:

• Self-Tour by Code: I was only given a code to enter the house. No one met me in person, which most legitimate property management companies usually do.

• Excuses for Not Meeting: I was told one person was out of town and another was at work, so no one could meet me for a tour. That should have been a red flag.

• Utilities Shut Off: The power and water were turned off when I visited. It struck me as odd at the time, but I brushed it aside.

• Assessor Website Match: I checked the assessor’s website, and the names mostly matched the owners, so I trusted it. In hindsight, that alone wasn’t enough to prove the situation was legitimate.

At the time, I convinced myself these things were normal. But now I know they were red flags that something wasn’t right.

I share this so others can be cautious.

What Renters Should Know

Based on what I went through, here are some red flags to watch for:

Being approved too quickly with little or no screening.

Being asked to pay before you have a signed lease and keys in hand.

Refunds coming slowly in pieces — or not at all.

Owners or managers who take the home off the market suddenly.

Being threatened or reported after paying money.

Protect Yourself

Verify ownership on the county assessor’s website.

Visit the home in person before sending money.

Use a credit card for deposits whenever possible — you may have chargeback protection.

Document everything — keep all texts, emails, and receipts.

Report suspicious activity to the FTC, IC3 (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center), and your local police.

Buyer Beware: This was my personal experience with this property and these individuals. I encourage everyone to double-check ownership, use safe payment methods, and protect themselves before paying deposits or rent.