The Storage Scam That Sold Empty Units While Victims Watched

The Storage Scam That Sold Empty Units While Victims Watched Fear of losing what you can't bear to part with: a small-town storage facility quietly erased possessions while auctions and lot cards created the illusion of a legal sale. Ridgeway Self-Storage ran for nearly four years, touched 61 documented auctions, and left 71 people with receipts for units already emptied-so how did the scheme stay hidden in plain sight? In this episode, we tell the story of the scheme at Ridgeway Self-Storage and the people who noticed, ignored, or were enrolled in it, following the timeline from a Tuesday morning lock to a wire fraud investigation. How did routine maintenance logs, text messages calling an auction "the show," and private cash payments make public auctions a performance? Person: Howard Casey Location: Ridgeway Self-Storage, four miles east of Dunmore, Dellard County Date: May 9, 2019 (pump truck operator observed two padlocks on unit 47) Case: Wire fraud investigation connected to emptying units before auctions Event: 61 documented auctions affected; 71 victims left with receipts - Ridgeway Self-Storage had 62 rentable units and was purchased by Howard Casey in 2013. - The scam ran for nearly four years and touched 61 documented auctions. - Trace paid Casey cash fees ranging from $800 to $4,000 per unit depending on contents. - A recovered text from November 2017 reads: "Trace, forty-one is good, cedar stuff and a tool chest. I'll have it open Wednesday. Show is Saturday." - Tenant Lisa Barnes paid $55 per month for unit 44 for three years and found her mother's cedar chest unlatched and interior contents shifted in May 2019. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].