In the cutthroat world of NYC real estate, would-be renters are advised to act fast—and even have cash on hand for a security deposit when viewing apartments. But this fast-paced, high pressure decision-making process makes desperate tenants vulnerable to predatory scammers. Police are now looking for people involved in two different scams, one in Brooklyn and one in Queens.
The Brooklyn rental scam took place between April and July of 2018. According to the NYPD, a 24-year-old woman posed as a real estate agent, using Facebook to post ads for apartments in Bensonhurst and Midwood. Authorities identified the suspect as Mahabbat Abdualieva, 24, and shared the photograph of her below. Here are details of the incidents:
(NYPD)
Incident #1: It was reported to police that on Monday, April 30, 2018 at 2215 hours, in the vicinity of Bay Parkway and 77th Street, a 22-year-old female victim answered an online ad for an apartment for rent at the location. The victim was met by a 24-year-old female who posed as a real estate agent. The victim gave her $500 as a security deposit for an apartment rental the female did not have the authority to rent. The female left the location and could not be reached after the transaction.
Incident #2: It was reported to police that on Monday, April 30, 2018 at 2350 hours, in the vicinity of Bay Parkway and 77th Street, a 30-year-old female victim answered an online ad for an apartment for rent at the location. The victim was met by the female who was given $200 as a security deposit for an apartment rent. The female left the location and could not be reached after the transaction.Incident #3: It was reported to police that on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 2359 hours, in the vicinity of Avenue N and Ocean Parkway, a 25-year-old female victim answered an online ad for an apartment for rent at the location. The victim was met the female and gave her $700 as a security deposit for an apartment rental. The female left the location and could not be reached after the transaction.
The suspect in the Queens rental scam operated in neighborhoods like North Corona, Rego Park, and Elmhurst. The police say a man, who called himself "Antonio", "Toni" "Patricio", "Emilio", "Tomas", "Alfredo", "Angel Dejesus" and "Jesus Parra," claimed he'd be able to rent out an apartment and took thousands in cash deposit from 12 victims. Here are the descriptions of those incidents:
(NYPD)
Incident #1 (115th Pct): It was reported to police that on Monday, July 23, 2018 at approximately 1200 hours, an unidentified male met with a 21-year-old male victim inside of 32-33 105th Street to rent an apartment. The victim paid $2,300 deposit but was unable to reach the male after the exchange.
Incident #2 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Friday, July 27, 2018 at approximately 0900 hours, the male met with a 42-year-old male victim inside of 32-33 105th Street to rent the apartment. The victim paid a $2,300 cash deposit but was unable to reach the male after the exchange.
Incident #3 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Monday, July 30, 2018 at approximately 1000 hours, the male met with a 39-year-old female victim inside of 32-33 105th Street to rent an apartment. The victim paid a $2,300 deposit but was unable to reach the male after the transaction.
Incident #4 (115th Pct): It was reported to police that on Monday, August 6, 2018 at approximately 0800 hours, the male met with a 26-year-old male victim inside of 32-33 105th Street to rent an apartment. The victim paid a $2,300 cash deposit but was unable to reach the male after the exchange.
Incident#5 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Friday, August 17, 2018 at approximately 0900 hours, the male met with a 36-year-old female victim inside of 40-15 97th Street to rent an apartment. The victim paid a $2,350 deposit but was unable to reach the male after the transaction.
Incident #6 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at approximately 1200 hours, the male met with a 44-year-old female inside of 93-20 43rd Avenue to rent an apartment. The victim paid a $2,300 deposit but was unable to reach him after the exchange.
Incident#7 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Monday, September 17, 2018 at approximately 1330 hour, the male met with a 35-year-old female inside of 93-20 43rd Avenue to rent an apartment. The victim paid a $2,400 deposit but was unable to reach him after the exchange.
Incident #8 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at approximately 1600 hours, the male met with a 35-year-old female victim to rent an apartment. The victim paid a $2,300 deposit but was unable to reach him after the exchange.
Incident #9 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Thursday, November 8, 2019 at approximately 1300 hours, the male approached a 31-year-old and 42-year-old female victims offering to rent an apartment at 54-33 101 Street. Both females left a $1,850 cash deposit but were unable to reach the male after the transaction.
Incident #10 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Thursday, December 27, 2018 at approximately 1500 hours, the male received $2,900 in cash from a 39-year-old male victim to rent an apartment located at 43-18 104th Street. The victim was unable to reach the male after the cash exchange.
Incident #11 (110th Pct): It was reported to police that on Monday, December 31, 2018 at approximately 1100 hours, a 43-year-old female paid $2,000 in cash to rent an apartment inside of 43-18 104th Street but was unable to reach the male after the cash exchange.
The city offers tips/warning signs on how to avoid rental scams (PDF). One red flag is "The 'Agent' will claim he/she is unable to meet due to being out of the area, state or country, however, he/she has arranged for keys to be delivered to you. Upon receiving payment, the fraudulent party will deliver keys (false set) for an apartment/premises at an agreed upon neutral location." Streeteasy also says cash deposits/payments are a bad sign.
Anyone with information in regard to the identification of either of these grand larceny suspects is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
