BEWARE! NYC Apartment scam - Ryan & Dalia Rental
 

Well, it's gone so far that even the New York Post has an article on it. The Camelot, a luxury building on West 45th St is being used by a fake company called "Ryan & Dalia Rental" in a Craig's List scam. The building exists but the rental company does not - and has apparently been doing this for years. The building's super reported “We’ve turned away as many as 50 visitors so far this summer”. Apparently the scam is usually aimed at visitors from outside the US - who have paid from $1000 and up for an apartment. The building manager even reports having a check (somehow sent to the building rather than the fake real estate office) for several thousand dollars - that he can't figure out who to return to.

Disappointed tourists are then left to try to find a hotel in the city that day.

The local police precinct can do nothing since the scam is legally perpetrated in the venue where the ads are run and the money paid - not at the building (which has several times reported the problem to police). (The city help line - 311 - could only suggest the tourists stay in a homeless shelter. And the NYCC&VB provides all sorts of tourist info - but does not have a hotel matching service as do many tourist offices in other parts of the world. Traveler's Aid has offices at airports and train stations, but again they do not provide hotel match services.)

So - just another reason not to illegally rent an apartment in NYC - esp through Craig's List.

nyc-str.com did you check out this website .... is it the same thing?

Have no idea if this one is a scam or not.

In any case - it's illegal. So if there is any problem (complaint by legitimate tenants) visitors can be summarily evicted without recourse - since you cannot enforce an illegal contract - and would have to find their own hotel on the spot.

Some people are actually subletting apartments (illegally). So - your choice is scam or illegal and take your chances.

Only short-term rentals of a month or more (as in corporate housing) are legal - and those are typically labeled corporate housing and cost much more.

illegal under the newly passed law or another exisiting law (i know it's against many building regulations)? i may be mistaken but i thought the new law didn't take effect until next may?

Has always been illegal in NYC. the new law - more stringent comes into effect next year.

So long as a furnished rental is for 30 days or longer the rental is legal. Since the laws were a bit grey the new law that was recently passed basically sets forth in plain english that rentals under 30 days are illegal and 30 days plus is fine.

Sad story with this internet scam. There are many fine corporate housing companies in NYC that service everyone from Fortune 500 companies to New Yokers who need temporary homes for a variety of reasons (hospital stays, apartment renovations, divorce situations to name a few).

NYc1001--just because it is more than 30 days doesn't automatically make it legal. A tenant in a rent controlled/stabilized apartment may NOT sublet without permission of the owner. An owner of a co op needs board permission ( and this usually involves all kinds of background checks and interviews) many Condo boards are not too requiring prior permission. Basically only if someone is renting their own home can you automatically say it is 100% okay