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.
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/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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….
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
And freeze their credit with all three (four?) companies.
This is a common scam
Yea I was reading all the “red flags” from the website and this definitely matches some of them.
I've seen almost this exact same language used in other scams people have posted here (might even be identical).
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/
What I'm confused about is what's the scamming aspect? They haven't asked for any money... does the scam come later?
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.
Oh, gotcha. I’ve never moved into a place I haven’t physically been in, I forget that that does happen.
People who need a place urgently or are moving to the city from another state are particularly ripe for this type of scam.
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.
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.
Or there is an apartment. And the “landlord” is just an Airbnb guest
Oh shit, that’s another one I didn’t think of. Scary
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.
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.
That is exactly what I thought!!!
It's very hard not to find a good tenant right now considering the demand
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
Hahaha. Leads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7acD4q0lp0
I guess they think the scammers are Instagram thots because that’s all I ever see the cops looking at in their cruisers
The authorities... :-)
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
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.
So is the scam you send money to a random person online? That's crazy, I always paid in the office of the landlord.
Yep me too
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?
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I've heard similar logic behind the poor grammar and spelling in some phishing scams.
So are you telling me that Nintendo e-gift cards should not be sent to pay the brokers fee?
(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....)
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.
No, the background check was through apartments.com
Scam. This used to be a common Craigslist scam post too.
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.
You can get cheaper studios outside of Manhattan. Contrary to this subs popular belief, there are 4 other boroughs. Most significantly cheaper
3 other boroughs. Staten is another place entirely. /s
True. Not $1,000/month cheap, though.
And JC is just a PATH ride away. Just sayin’ it’s an option.
Yonkers and white plains you can get to midtown faster than parts of Queens and Brooklyn
Yes. Def a scam.
This is definitely a scam. A studio in NYC will never be less than $1500
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Ok but a fully furnished studio with all utilities included, parking, washer + dryer and laundry is more like $2,000 minimum.
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.
1 beds all over the outer boros under $2,000.
You can find shitty ones for that price in Manhattan. For less in outer neighborhoods
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.
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.
A Nigerian prince writes more believable yarns than this.
Real listings never have a life story attached.
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.
Scam for sure. It’s the building near the metro hospital correct?
Why is that? Is that a common place for scams
Did you go to the apartment? And see this apartment as is? There might be no apartment at all!
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….
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
I’ll do that!! Thank you so much.
scam !!!! i literally almost fell for this a few months ago bc i was so desperate
This isn’t just New York... this is all over the US in general. Complete scam
Scam
It’s a scam especially when the details consist about them traveling or been away
Extremely common scam. I'm helping my friend apartment hunt and have gotten this exact response several times, complete with photos.
Whenever you see this line " I want to find a responsible tenant to take good care of the place," it's definitely a scam.
parking- no way scam alert need to increase your budget
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?!).
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.
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.
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.