Anna, a single mom of three, had just gotten a hard-earned promotion when her landlord, Frank, raised her rent by $500—purely out of spite. “Congrats on the raise,” his email read. “Figured I’d squeeze a bit more out of you.” He’d ignored repairs for years, mocked her struggles, and now saw her success as a payday.

But this time, Anna didn’t beg. She posted the truth in a local mom group, and it exploded. Other tenants shared horror stories, and soon a real estate watchdog picked it up. Frank’s reputation crumbled fast.