GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- The FOX 17 Problem Solvers are continuing to investigate a Midland woman who scammed a West Michigan family out of an RV rental and left them out of nearly $2,000. Since the story first aired, dozens more victims came forward saying they’ve been wronged by the same person.
Due to all the people who have come forward since we got the Guikema family’s story, authorities have been investigating Tanya Hunter.
Her scams go beyond RV rentals, and now the local sheriff’s department has built a case that’s been handed over to the prosecutor’s office.
Laurie Guikema says a dream vacation that was planned nearly a year prior crumbled with one phone call. It was to be the first chance for her three children to see the western part of the United States, and they were going to do it all while camping in an RV along the way.
“We were supposed to leave Saturday at 8 a.m.," said Guikema. "Friday, she called us and said it’s not just going to be fixed, and so we are all just looking at each other like what do we do now? Is our whole trip ruined?”
The saga began when Guikem'as husband posted on craigslist looking to rent an RV. "She contacted him and said she had an RV and was willing to rent it for two weeks."said Guikema.
The Guikemas sent $1,600 to Hunter, but not before doing their homework. Her husband asked for references, pictures of the RV, and signed a contract.
“He actually drove to a horse show a couple hours away, because her daughter shows horses, to see the RV. He went through it and made sure it was clean and as advertised, and it looked great,” said Guikema.
Later, Hunter claimed the RV was damaged by a branch that fell from a tree during a storm right before the Guikemas were scheduled to leave, but she wouldn’t send a picture as proof. As of November, she had only returned $300 out of the $1,600 she had been paid.
“It was really hard for me to see my husband," ” said Guikema. "He was just trying to make this great vacation for the family, and it made me more upset at [Hunter], because he trusted her."
They later discovered that this might have not been a first for Hunter.
“My sister called me and she said, ‘Do you happen to have this lady’s name?’ I said, ‘Yes, it’s Tanya Hunter.’ She said, ‘This just happened to another family in Grand Rapids.’
FOX 17 News obtained documents that show that a different family took Hunter to small claims court for a similar scenario. Emails from another families show us they had also been scammed. Also, we found numerous ads online warning others not to trust Hunter.
“Tanya Hunter is a thief,” said Guikema.
FOX 17 had email contact with Hunter on Oct. 3. She wrote, “I have been working on re-paying the Guikemas. I have sent a little and had replied back to an e-mail this morning that I would send money on Thursday.”
Laurie said she hasn’t received a dollar.
“When we contacted you guys, we figured we probably weren’t going to get paid back, but our thought was she has to be doing this to other people," said Guikema. "It’s not like she is borrowing five or 10 bucks. She is taking thousands from people and not delivering what she promised. So, if we can stop her from that, then that’s our goal,”
Problem Solvers shared information we uncovered with the Midland County Sheriff’s Department. They said they had an influx of calls about Hunter after our story aired.
“I’ve been very busy since that report aired, and I have talked to numerous people since that time,” said Detective Brent Benzing.
More than 30 victims reached out, and investigators found out that reports weren't just limited to RV rentals.
“The basic information we have at this time is that it’s not just an RV rental bus also sales of horses, horse implements, horse trailers, things of that nature,” he said.
Hunter declined to comment further.
Earlier, Hunter contended that it was a failed business venture that got her into this mess. Detective Benzing says they have proof that says differently.
“I am comfortable at this point in saying a report has been taken,” said Benzing. "There is a significant investigation underway, and a report that has been forwarded to the office of the prosecuting attorney for Midland County, and the investigation from our end continues."
Even though the Guikemas may never see another check, they find solace.
“It’s disappointing, and obviously she has a history of doing this. We just didn’t want it to happen to anybody else,” said Guikema.
The Midland County Prosecutor's Office will decide if and when Hunter will be charged.
