California’s Wildfire Survivors Get Scorched Again—This Time by Greedy Landlords and Scammers

EDITOR'S NOTES

When disaster strikes, you’d think people would come together. But no, in the grand dystopia of California, where wildfires rage and homes turn to ash, the vultures come out to feast. Fire victims aren’t just battling the flames—they’re getting burned by a rigged system that lets landlords jack up rent while scammers fleece the desperate.

It’s not just about greed. It’s about a broken state where laws mean nothing, enforcement is laughable, and the government’s only solution is to throw around toothless warnings while real people suffer. California’s wildfires aren’t just natural disasters—they’re systemic failures, exposing the rot in a collapsing housing market, the inefficacy of price-gouging laws, and the dark underbelly of disaster capitalism.

Now, let’s get into the grim reality.

Derek Wolfe Jan 21, 25

The Inferno After the Inferno

Lauren Ravitz, a realtor in Los Angeles, wakes up every morning to frantic calls from wildfire victims begging for a place to live. Her inbox overflows with messages from people whose lives just went up in flames—literally. And yet, even in this chaos, there are those who see an opportunity—not to help, but to profit.

Rental prices have skyrocketed as desperate survivors scramble for housing. California’s so-called "protections" against rent gouging, which theoretically cap increases at 10% during a state of emergency, are being ignored. And why wouldn’t they be? The people who are supposed to enforce these laws are either asleep at the wheel or too busy making TikToks about climate change.

"Some people were so desperate that they paid the inflated rates," Ravitz says. "But now others are catching on and starting to report it."

Great. And what’s the consequence for these predatory landlords? A measly fine—if they even get caught. The City of Los Angeles boasts that they’ll slap violators with a $30,000 penalty. But let’s be real: that’s pocket change for the kind of landlords who make their money exploiting people in crisis.

Meanwhile, scammers are prowling through the wreckage like hyenas. Fake rental listings pop up, asking for deposits via wire transfer. Families, exhausted and overwhelmed, send their last few dollars only to discover the property doesn’t even exist. It’s the digital version of kicking someone while they’re down, and it’s happening all over.

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is telling people to "report" these scams. Cute. As if filing a complaint is going to get their money back or put a roof over their heads.

A No-Win Situation

For those whose homes have been reduced to charred rubble, the choices are bleak:

Rebuild, if they can navigate the insurance maze and fend off the opportunistic contractors waiting to overcharge them.
Sell the land and leave, though good luck finding a buyer when the entire state is a tinderbox.
Get out of California altogether, a move thousands are making every year as they flee high taxes, crime, and a government that cares more about virtue signaling than governance.

Some are already planning to rebuild, hiring architects and contractors, but it won’t be easy. Insurance companies are notorious for lowballing fire victims, making them fight for every dollar. And that’s if they can even get coverage—many insurers are pulling out of California entirely, unwilling to take the risk.

Meanwhile, families are being displaced again, moving to nearby areas like Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica, where rental prices are already sky-high. Those who can’t afford it are crammed into hotels or couch-surfing indefinitely.

The Government’s Useless Response

Government officials love to talk about “helping” during disasters, but what does that really mean? A few relief funds, some gift cards for groceries, and a couple of empty promises about cracking down on fraud. Meanwhile, the real relief is nowhere to be found.

Anne Russell, president of the Greater Los Angeles Association of Realtors, admits that price gouging happens despite the laws against it. She’s warning her 13,500 members about it, but that’s like trying to put out a wildfire with a garden hose.

And let’s not forget the digital scams—text messages posing as charities, phishing attempts to steal personal data. This isn’t just about rental scams anymore. It’s an open season on wildfire victims, and the predators are running wild.

What’s Next? A Permanent Disaster State

With four major fires still raging, the situation is only going to get worse. Climate alarmists will use this to push their green energy agendas while ignoring the real problems: failed forest management, corrupt housing markets, and a state government more focused on banning plastic straws than protecting its citizens.

The truth is, California isn’t just burning—it’s collapsing. Wildfires, blackouts, crime, inflation—every crisis is an excuse for more government control, more laws that don’t work, and more suffering for regular people.

The housing shortage will deepen, insurance companies will keep backing out, and when the next fire comes, the same cycle will repeat. The only ones who win are the ones who know how to game the system—landlords, scammers, and bureaucrats.

If you’re still in California, maybe it’s time to ask yourself: How many more disasters before you walk away?

How to Protect Yourself

If you want to avoid getting burned financially, you need to take control of your own security. Download Seven Steps to Protect Yourself from Bank Failure by Bill Brocius now: Click Here. Because in a crisis, the system isn’t coming to save you—it’s coming to exploit you.