A woman has been taken into custody for allegedly executing a scam targeting individuals seeking affordable housing in Glendale, according to city officials. Sima Karapetyan, 47, is accused of impersonating an employee of the Glendale Housing Authority, deceiving victims into handing over cash in hopes of securing low-income housing and an improved place on the Section 8 Housing Voucher waiting list, as reported by the City of Glendale.
The Glendale Police Department detailed how Karapetyan, a North Hollywood resident, approached elderly individuals at public aid offices and local non-profit organizations. Here, she presented herself as an authority on affordable housing, a guise she reportedly maintained since 2021, as evidenced by an investigation into her activities. Karapetyan has been arrested on May 23 and stands accused of targeting at least 11 victims to date, the city's news release stated.
Following her arrest, Karapetyan faced arraignment on multiple counts, which included seven counts of theft by pretense and four counts of elder abuse, carrying a bail of $450,000, as per the City of Glendale.
"If you are approached by someone promising low-income housing assistance in exchange for money, please ignore the request," warned the Glendale Housing Authority, making it clear that legitimate housing support cannot be purchased. Authorities have been firm in their message to the community: Do not release personal financial information to strangers making such promises, and understand that legitimate assistance programs don't operate through street-level transactions, according to NBC Los Angeles.
