When you look at the box and junctions you don't necessarily detect it.  

He has avoided detection because the dollar amount is relatively small.If he claims the money belongs to someone else, then it needs to be surrendered as abandoned property.

You are going to get hit with fees on whatever marketplace you do this transaction on, then you will get hit with credit card interest which can be 20%+. 

@Joe BertolinoDo you see these kind of opportunities with recent prices in the CA market place?

IMHO, the next bust will not occur until RE marketplace participants forget the lessons of 2008 in another 20 years or so. 

The older assets in the marketplace will not get the TLC they deserve from their owners.... this is a rabbit hole of all bad news. 

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The people that realize this early on will be able to prosper immensely by providing nicely refurbished houses to the market place.

You can lower the risk as a lender, by doing things like:-Only lending at low LTVs-Only lending to experienced individuals-Only lending to individuals with significant assets and a personal guarantee-Only lending on real estate that requires little or no rehab or other work-Only lending on cash-flowing assets that would continue to cash flow if foreclosed onWhile this may lower the rate you lend at a bit, I think you'll still find some very healthy returns, since most of the competition is in the higher rate, riskier segments of the marketplace.

I have no interest in this product other than to point out some of my experiences since this is on the open forum of BP... if this discussion was in Marketplace I would not comment..