I just wish the tables could be turned and these tenants that are commiting all kinds of crimes beyond just overstaying would finally be facing charges like fraud, extortion, terroristic threats, assault, etc...you know, the kinds of things that landlords get threatened with when they want to throw the book at one, but somehow tenants seem to be immune from.

I've already had to renegotiate twice downwards on rent to keep tenants (once due to the tenant being furloughed the other taking advantage of the threat of vacancy).

This also in a way reminds me of the GFC when U had all those strategic foreclosures.. in states with no deficiency judgement possible people did this in droves although there were always 1099C threat but then govmit came out and put a moratorium on that..   

It is located on an island so no real threat of new construction or expansion. 

Seriously, most of them are empty threats from people that can't figure out how to build a personal budget or balance a checkbook.30 Day Notice can be served on any day of the month and then the clock starts ticking.

Wondering if anyone’s used Bitcoin/ cyber currency or has a creative use of gift cards, Amex points, etc to purchase goods or services for their property, or used a barter organization.

It is a idle threat you do not want to follow throw on.

I am not a lay person who would typically be scammed by the common cyber criminal that we get warned about. 

If you're working in an area where permits are easy to pull & you know w/o a doubt that the ongoing work doesn't require a permit & there's no threat of a stop work, then maybe your contractor is right, but I wouldn't want to take the chance.  

I do not take this as a credible threat, but if any of you have any ideas on how to handle this other than a stern letter, I'm all ears.