Douglas Elliman Broker Melinda Sicari Exposes Online Rental Scam in New York City Neighborhoods
Scammers target desperate renters with fake listings and Douglas Elliman broker Melinda Sicari shares her experience.
Real estate scams are nothing new, but with the rise of online platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, it has become even easier for scammers to target desperate renters looking for a place to call home. Douglas Elliman broker Melinda Sicari recently shared her experience with these scams and how they can easily deceive unsuspecting renters in New York City.
The calls started coming in late at night, often when Sicari was about to go to bed or already asleep. The callers were persistent and had either just sent money to a Zelle or Venmo account for a rental apartment or were about to send it. The problem? The listings were fake.
"I'm getting calls from people who are crying, people who have wired money. It's just been a nightmare," Sicari said. "They're getting scammed, and it's happening more and more."
According to Sicari, these scammers use stolen photos and information from legitimate listings to create fake ones, making it nearly impossible for renters to distinguish between real and fake listings. They also often use fake names and profiles on social media platforms to further deceive potential renters.
And it's not just renters who are falling victim to these scams. Some scammers are even impersonating brokers and agents, using their names and contact information to create fake listings. This not only damages the reputation of legitimate brokers and agents but also puts them at risk for liability issues.
Sicari has been working with local authorities and social media companies to try and stop these scams, but it has been an uphill battle. Many of the scammers are located outside of the country, making it difficult for law