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Apartment Rental Scam

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Apartment Rental Scam Reports & Reviews (53)

- Scranton, PA, USA
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The scam started out via an online Craigslist advertisement for a rentable house. The ad instructed me to call a number, and the person had an Indian accent. They asked me for my annual income, social security number, and asked for a screenshot of my credit report through CreditIQ using a link. Then they had me call another number (person also had Indian accent) and did the same thing except through sites Kikoff and PFMVerify. When calling back they hung up. I unfortunately fell victim to these [censored], and I have froze my credit and filed multiple reports.

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- Brooklyn, NY, USA
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The scammer claims they are renting out luxury apartment units for 800.00. No income No credit verification is required. They do not answer phones but want you to submit application with 450 fee.

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- Bronx, NY, USA
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I was seeking help to find an apartment they took copies of my social security card my NY state ID which was suppose to be used for credit check purposes but i was never contacted back after I rendered my personal information

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- Bronx, NY, USA
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Looking for apartment assistance instead he asked for my housing voucher information once i sent him the information all communication stopped

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- Brooklyn, NY, USA
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On September 2nd, Jorge Vega (supposedly a broker working in Luxe Rental Sales NYC), showed my the apt #3A on 1649 Summersfield, Ridgewood, Queens. He said I should pay a "good faith deposit" for $1267 in order to reserve the room I wanted, and I did so throgh Zelle. I was supposed to get the apartment on Sep 15, but never got it and started to get less and less responses. I asked for my money back, and they said it would take 12 business days to get it back, however, they have kept making excuses and they rarely pick up the phone or respond to my messages until today October 23. I haven't got any money back, but also they claim that they are keeping $100 or $67 (not sure) for a processing fee, even though they didn't even review my application nor run a background credit check.

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- Philadelphia, PA, USA
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I was looking for a comfortable n affordable place to stay ...with winter arriving soon...i really jus wanted somewhere to call home for a few years or more...well..i found this place n i wasn't ready yet...i kept praying when i was ..it would still be available....it was...n..i was like this must be meant ...emailed the company...n...they reached out to me..by phone....he(Phillip)initially told me he was busy...he'll get back with me...i was really ready to move...first time trying to live on my own.....starting from nothing...he claimed to do a background check...i passed n then he said ..could i send him the money to hold the apt...600...he said hell be right back i never heard or seen him again ...i called he jus kept hanging up blocking myself m everybody i could get to help me contact him....im praying i get help

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- Scranton, PA, USA
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I inquired about an apartment on Facebook marketplace in Scranton, PA. The person I messaged gave me a number to text for more information. I texted this number and spoke to a man named "James" who said he had to call me to go over some questions before I fill out an application and see the apartment. He called me and asked me normal rental questions but made me screenshot and text him a picture of my credit score, then emailed me a rental application to fill out (the link to fill it out looked sketchy in itself) and told him I had to Venmo him money for the application fee. I told him I wasn't sending him any money personally and if it was legit there would be a spot on the actual application form to pay.

Other things that were sketchy that I noticed after the fact -

This man has a Texas phone number but James Alexander Real Estate Management is in Lancaster, PA

I realized after that the street view of the address did not match the address/house/description in the listing.

I found the same listing on Zillow with different details (different rental price, different rental rules) posted by a completely different management company that actually does have a Scranton phone number.

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- Woodhaven, NY, USA
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I gave a deposit of $1650 on September 10th and 11th for a rental apartment with move in date of September 15th, for an entire week I was given the run around saying the apartment was getting work done. To then find out that on September 16th, a man who I confronted was going into the building that I had gave a down a payment for was already living in the apartment since the beginning of September. I confronted the property manager and was told sorry they made a mistake. I kindly ask for my deposit back since they couldn’t deliver their part of the deal and I’ve been getting the run around ever since. I still have not receive my deposit and I currently reported the situation to my bank as well. Money was wired through my TD Zelle and I have yet to have my money refunded .

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- Bronx, NY, USA
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Scammer pretended to be a broker for an Apartment I had been viewing. We viewed the apartment and signed a lease and I gave my dues. When it was time to move in I was not given access to the apartment due to an issue regarding the lock on the door to the apartment. I then asked for the rest of the keys and was told that she did not have the keys. I then asked for the money returned and she said that she would refund me back, however she then tried, without my permission, to look for other apartments for me to replace the fact that she owed me the $1000. When I said no and that the place was too far a commute and asked her to give me the money back she then said that she would look for another place. I then gave her a choice to either pay me back in full, pay me in increments or that I would be taking this to the police. She continued to state that she owed me nothing and has been difficult to reach afterwards.

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- Brooklyn, NY, USA
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I was looking for an apartment to move in I found this guy on Instagram name Daniel J. Scott real estate agent, the page name is rent Brooklyn, I contacted him about an apartment in Brooklyn he said he has something for me so he sent me some pics of the apartment I liked it and I asked for a tour he said I need to fill out the application first and pay $200 so I did. after that he ghosted me for almost a day I called him so many times no response I texted him asking for my money back no response and then he responded but ignoring me saying I want my refund after that he blocked me.

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This same person contacted me to help him get people on Facebook market that he will pay me and at the end I just found out he was a scammer.

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On 8/23-8/24/2023 The scammer told me that filling out an application before viewing the property would guarantee my walkthrough of the property and hold the property until inspection. I asked was the application fee refundable they stated yes which I have in email. I proceeded to fill out the application to rent his/her property. Monday9/28/2023 they stated I was approved and to deposit them 950 dollars to promptly move the process along. I informed them that I will not send any amount for a deposit without viewing the property first. They got offended and tried to threaten me by withdrawing my application. So I went to PHA myself and withdrew my application. While there the representative informed me that no application was submitted on my behalf. I showed the representative at PHA the fake email they sent claiming my housing was approved in an attempt to get me to surrender money to them. I asked for a refund for the application fee or I would contact the authorities and you all. Which I am doing now because they sent me an email telling me to contact whoever I want. I have all emails and screenshots for proof.

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My daughter asked me to co-sign on an application for an apartment on 644 south street in So. Philly. Before she could view the apartment, Maria needed to see our credit scores. We both had to sign into trans union and get a score. This included a 29.99 monthly fee that you could cancel. Next, she asked for an additional score

From a totally bogus looking site.

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False advertising- requested credit report. After receiving report from trans union, requested additional bogus credit report

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I’m in New York City school teacher that just lost my job. Jay contacted a friend of mine via direct message on Instagram proposing apartment without credit check guaranteed. Jason up five appointment in New Jersey of apartments that were guaranteed $2000 rent with no credit check due to my financial circumstances where I’m not able to buy or lease an apartment due to no employment. He requested that I give him $2000 upfront to guarantee an apartment. I do not feel comfortable with that being I don’t have an income currently and a home, so I agreed to send $900 to him via Zell. However the Zell account with a link to his wife, beauty spa in two different payment forms of $500 and $400. That was in March see attachment for proof, then he requested $2300 in cash guaranteed apartment in the Royal towers in Hackensack New Jersey where rent would be $2000 everything included months went by and he never got back to me or my friend that he’s been in contact with. When he collected the money he was told that I agreed to the Royal towers apartment two weeks went by I hadn’t heard from him and found out that supposedly he had an apartment ready for me in Rutherford New Jersey, which is very far away and much more expensive $2700 a month with nothing included. After after begging for my money and him, not returning calls, and then avoiding, and then getting very nasty and unprofessional, he said that I would not receive my money for slander because he is a scam artist. I’m now homeless, and he has the rest of my retirement money as well as his wife that I also put a complaint in for. I have proof of conversations pictures of his Instagram, and all of it is in writing. He also has a clothing store with counterfeit items that he sells for over priced and fake name brands. His store is on Dyckman Avenue in the Bronx but he has blocked me on Instagram and only able to access one of his other pages. I reported the incident to Instagram and I have not received a response. I’ve also had my father call him several several times with no response and I don’t have a dollar to my name. I’m a divorced woman with nowhere to live and was relying on that money. I will take legal action if it is not handled immediately. I can provide phone number and location of Alta apartment to claims that he could have me living for $2000 without credit check and he even mentioned that it would be under someone else’s name which is not something I would ever feel comfortable with the victim of identity theft of myself After working in the New York City school department for 10 years, he literally has my livelihood in his hands. I don’t even have funds to get gas to go to my job interviews that I have lined up because he has all of what I have left. Something needs to be done and it needs to happen ASAP. I don’t know what other avenue to take but his wife’s salon is also receiving a complaint the name Hasani’s Beauty. Please contact me if you need any more proof I will attach the basic information below. Thank you.

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I am from NJ and was in need for an apartment in Cambridge/Boston area since my son is having summer program from July 10th till Aug 6th. Friends recommended to use the Facebook group called 'Cambridge Harvard MIT Rental Housing, Rooms, Apartments, Sublets, Roommates'.. From this group, a person who claimed to be Real estate agent with the profile name Avery Mila Leo (https://www.facebook.com/aver.565) started interacting with me and showed the apartment picture that was supposed to be 125 Portland street Apt#10, Cambridge, MA (later found out that there is no Apt 10 in that building). Then she introduced me to Thomas Amini who claimed to be the property manager of this apartment. After signing the lease for a month, they asked me to wire the money to them to the account listed in the contract and i did an ACH transfer of $1950. When i came to Cambridge MA on July 8th, came to know that there is no Apt 10 in that building and also found that the address listed, website are fake and FB profile, Thomas, Avery are all scammers. I reported this incident to the FB group and asked them to remove Avery profile but they did not publish my post and did not respond to me. Avery profile is still active in that group and is contacting other people. Please investigate andtake action against Landgate Inc andAvery Mila Leo FB profile

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A real estate agent for travel nurses contacted me on Facebook in a travel nurse group about a possible housing situation. We found the company to have reported approval of business in the states of New York and Massachusetts and believed them to be a legitament business. The lease agreement was signed and a Zelle information was given for the first months rent and security deposit. Partial Zelle were sent to a John Terry, [email protected]. The Zelle were two one time payments of $1000. The person began to email me asking for Amazon gift cards for the rest of the payment. Since this I have not able to receive this money back and even requested this individual. The company has stated they will be processing the refund and returning the funds to us immediately but they are past their reported date that refund would be returned. They have tried different ways to return funds but are unable too at this time. The real estate agent is a supposed Girardi Deborah Anne of premier nest agency.

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- New York, NY, USA
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We applied for an apartment, and payed an advanced commission fee. After we paid the fee they hardly got back to us, the same apartment has been on the market for 82 days and they refuse to refund me my 500

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- Corona, NY, USA
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The scammer used to steal someone else's information, identity, work license photos, and more. He asked me to send $180 through Zelle and he would show me an apartment, when I got to the apartment he asked me to deposit $200 more then I received a call from the number (407)6801679, the scammer never came and his call was from Florida.

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- Austin, TX, USA
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I found a scammer on Facebook marcket place and offered me a house for rent and I went to the house and he gave me the code to enter the house and I got intrested on the house and he sent me a application for rent and hi call me nex day and I got approved and he kept asking me for more money and used diffrient names to get the money

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- Pompano Beach, FL, USA
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1 bed 1 bath @ lindoapartamento located 2243 Farragut St Hollywood, Fl, 33020 Broker name Jose Sanchez requested $100 sent through ZELLE to Fidelina de Leon email address: [email protected] requesting $1000.00 for rent monthly on day to view rent location broker texted being sick and was requesting additional $100 for stamps on paperwork. I waited 1 hour outside the address, and no one ever show. when I texted the broker back for refund his phone no longer works

813-219-4519.

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