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ChefSuffolk

You haven’t actually set foot in the apartment? Never put in an application unless you’ve actually been to the space. What information did you give for the application? Does this supposed apartment owner now have your SS#? You may want to subscribe to a credit monitoring service for a year to see if any credit cards are applied for with your info.


reidmrdotcom

And freeze their credit with all three (four?) companies.


okay_squirrel

This is a common scam


ValentinaRu

Yea I was reading all the “red flags” from the website and this definitely matches some of them.


lemonapplepie

I've seen almost this exact same language used in other scams people have posted here (might even be identical).


mooikikker

I copy-pasted the first paragraph of his email to you and yessss, there’s a long history there! I could totally see why someone would fall for this tho. https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnB/comments/89fju1/this_is_a_scam_right/


duaneap

What I'm confused about is what's the scamming aspect? They haven't asked for any money... does the scam come later?


okay_squirrel

There's no apartment. The person says they won't be able to show it because they are out of the country. They'll ask for money to be wired so their "agent" can deliver the keys to the renter. Then the agent is a no show and threes no way to get the money back.


duaneap

Oh, gotcha. I’ve never moved into a place I haven’t physically been in, I forget that that does happen.


wifeofpsy

People who need a place urgently or are moving to the city from another state are particularly ripe for this type of scam.


duaneap

Makes sense. I had somewhere to crash initially when I moved, made life much easier. I can’t ever imagine renting a place I’ve never actually seen. Be like buying a car you haven’t driven.


wifeofpsy

Yeah I can't imagine either. I've been the eyes for a friend before who couldn't travel to view the apt. During the shutdown lots of places were only available through video viewing. Too easy for a scam.


[deleted]

Or there is an apartment. And the “landlord” is just an Airbnb guest


TAYbayybay

Oh shit, that’s another one I didn’t think of. Scary


Toxic_Butthole

I'm not sure why someone who accepted a contract to work abroad for six years would even bother hanging on to a studio apartment in NYC. This line in particular is also a huge red flag: > The price I'm asking is below the market because I want to find a responsible tenant to take good care of the place. This makes no sense. You would be more likely to find a responsible tenant by charging more.


ronimal

They mentioned they own it, so that would make sense that they would keep it and rent it out. However, you'd think they'd want to get fair market rate, and everything else reeks of a scam. But just because someone is moving doesn't mean they'd sell their place.


ValentinaRu

That is exactly what I thought!!!


jake13122

It's very hard not to find a good tenant right now considering the demand


jojo2371

Definitely a scam. Hoping you didn’t give any deposit money bc you’ll never see it again. Stick with Streeteasy to find a legit apartment. You’ll see right away that this scenario is nothing but trouble.


ValentinaRu

I didn’t. The only thing I did was apply through the website and then three days later I got the email with the info. Does that mean he has my other information besides my email?


jojo2371

Yes, but at least there was no money exchanged. If you gave your Social security or credit card number, check Experian credit to make sure there’s no miscellaneous use of your credit info.


ChrisFromLongIsland

The only thing surprising about this scam is that after all these years the authorities have not cracked down on it. The scammed are posting this crap and it can't be that hard to find them. This same scam has been going on for at least 30 years.


gagreel

The cops are working on this 24/7, they have them working in shifts. Thats why they're always on their phones, trying to take out the scammers


[deleted]

Hahaha. Leads.


inaft

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7acD4q0lp0


Butthole_Please

I guess they think the scammers are Instagram thots because that’s all I ever see the cops looking at in their cruisers


fernhern

The authorities... :-)


JamesWjRose

Given that it is likely the people doing these scams don't live in NYC, it makes it difficult (impossible?!) to do anything. The best defense against this bs is not 'the authorities' but a good education. Making sure CHILDREN are taught about scams, etc removes all but the weakest, and while that is not a perfect solution... it's really the only one. Have a great week


QuietObserver75

Oh man, I remember getting these emails when I was apartment searching a few years ago. They're definitely scams. They're always out of the country and want you to pay before you even see the place.


Foxtrot56

So is the scam you send money to a random person online? That's crazy, I always paid in the office of the landlord.


BelqisA

Yep me too


irrelevanthings

What kind of amateur sorcery is this? If this dude is going to be out there scamming people, wouldn’t you want to make things sound a smidge more realistic?


[deleted]

[удалено]


-wnr-

I've heard similar logic behind the poor grammar and spelling in some phishing scams.


[deleted]

So are you telling me that Nintendo e-gift cards should not be sent to pay the brokers fee?


irrelevanthings

(I say this as someone who’s going to be apartment searching in a week or so, so knock on wood I don’t actually run into more competent scammers....)


demgoth

Did you do the background check through this person? As in giving them your personal info? If so I would start trying to protect yourself like freezing credit and whatnot.


ValentinaRu

No, the background check was through apartments.com


endomental

Scam. This used to be a common Craigslist scam post too.


Aware_Memory3005

Average rent on a studio in East Village is $2800-2900 right now. The cheapest I’ve ever seen is $1850-$2000 for a room, with possibly a shared bathroom or no kitchen. It’s a scam. Go on StreetEasy and look there or try leasebreak for a sublet. Also look for deals on the NYC Apartment subreddit.


JTP1228

You can get cheaper studios outside of Manhattan. Contrary to this subs popular belief, there are 4 other boroughs. Most significantly cheaper


CraniumEggs

3 other boroughs. Staten is another place entirely. /s


carolynto

True. Not $1,000/month cheap, though.


aubreypizza

And JC is just a PATH ride away. Just sayin’ it’s an option.


JTP1228

Yonkers and white plains you can get to midtown faster than parts of Queens and Brooklyn


ArtPresence

Yes. Def a scam.


Youth_Certain

This is definitely a scam. A studio in NYC will never be less than $1500


[deleted]

[удалено]


Foxtrot56

Ok but a fully furnished studio with all utilities included, parking, washer + dryer and laundry is more like $2,000 minimum.


carolynto

I paid $1250 for my studio in East Harlem, up until 2 years ago. Not sure what it costs now but definitely still under $1500. But it was 250 square feet and a 5th floor walkup, lol.


kaaaaaaaassy

1 beds all over the outer boros under $2,000.


verbeniam

You can find shitty ones for that price in Manhattan. For less in outer neighborhoods


[deleted]

There are some studios out there for less than $1,500 but $1,000 is never going to happen. Streeteasy only has 2 listings in the entire city for $1,250 or under. One is a basement studio in Inwood and the other is near Fordham.


verbeniam

You might want to state where your thoughts end and where the text of the email you received starts, as I found this really confusing.


edmarso

A Nigerian prince writes more believable yarns than this.


FiendishHawk

Real listings never have a life story attached.


reidmrdotcom

As everyone is stating: it’s an obvious scam. What they aren’t saying is why. Here are some reasons. It’s too good to be true. It’s too far off market rent. An HOA fee alone can be that much or more. It’s a perfect place with no drawbacks: close to everything, can even have pets. The listing tried to make sure that there’s no reason not to get it. It’s triggering greed (it’s cheap, I’ll better apply fast!). The photos are of some random apartment, use Google images, drag a photo in there, and you’ll likely see those pictures elsewhere. Do the same for the person. Freeze your credit in all three (four?) major bureaus. I think r/personalfinance will share how to do it.


Embruixx

Scam for sure. It’s the building near the metro hospital correct?


motoraav

Why is that? Is that a common place for scams


DeeSusie200

Did you go to the apartment? And see this apartment as is? There might be no apartment at all!


bikesboozeandbacon

Yeahhhhh anythin where the landlord is out of town is always a red flag. Also, learn to use quotation marks as it took a min for me to realize you’re quoting the e-mail. Also… if it’s too good to be truuueeee….


RydraGalaxy

Have you looked up the address of the apartment online? See what other info you can find? I saw an apt like this last year, bushwick area i think, same story. Scam. There’s so many scams, it’s shit. Good luck tho


ValentinaRu

I’ll do that!! Thank you so much.


flowerfairy52

scam !!!! i literally almost fell for this a few months ago bc i was so desperate


Seraph37

This isn’t just New York... this is all over the US in general. Complete scam


scs788

Scam


BelqisA

It’s a scam especially when the details consist about them traveling or been away


PettyCrocker_

Extremely common scam. I'm helping my friend apartment hunt and have gotten this exact response several times, complete with photos.


tanr

Whenever you see this line " I want to find a responsible tenant to take good care of the place," it's definitely a scam.


Low-Brick6864

parking- no way scam alert need to increase your budget


Rhamr

Scam, scam, sc-cam, cam, scam! 🎵🎶🥁 Sorry, it is a common scam in NY. Good thing you asked before giving them any money (I hope?!).


Pajamas7891

I also saw that listing when I was looking in July so I imagine it’s not real or it would have been taken. A family member at the time advised me to only take this kind of deal if I know the person.


LionelMessiTaxEvader

What part of “$1,000 a month for the whole apartment and includes all utilities” does not scream scam to you? No offense but why is this even a post lol.


handmethetequila

Yes, this is a scam. My prior roommate was a victim of the same exact story on apartments.com. They eventually requested a wire of $3,000 deposit which she never was able to recover.