nytraveler

So, this morning as I was leaving my building I find 2 young Italian women - with their luggge - standing on the doorstep. They try to enter as I leave and I stop them - asking who they re going to see. They inform me they have rented apt 8 M for a week - but can't find the bell to ring.

I explain that the building only has 6 floors and no M apts - they are in the wrong place.

They show me an email from someone named "George" with an incomprehensible gmail account name - whom they have paid (wire transfer) to rent an apt in this building. It indeed says this on the email.

I explain either the address was typed incorrectly - or they have been scammed - and suggest they call "George" for more info - but they don't have a phone number or address for him.

I sent them to the police station (to get hooked up with traveler's aide) and reco'd a nearby hostel (horrors - they want a luxury apt). Don;t know what they did - they were standing in front of the building discussing when I ran for a cab.

Reminder: Short-term apt rentals in NYC are almost all illegal.And many listings on Craig's list are scams. Especially those that won't supply last names, phone numbers and addresses (of the renter - not the apt).

5alive

Really sad.

jamie99

I agree, sad story, hope they were able to find something.

tchoiniere

That is a sad story. I feel bad for the tourists but buyers beware.

NeoPatrick

I think this is less a lesson about New York apartments than it is a reminder not to wire money to any individual for any reason when you don't have his address or phone number. I'm always puzzled who would rent an apartment from someone when they don't know his name, address, or phone number. By the way, it's interesting that the individual they sent the money to also probably has THEIR address and knows that they are in a foreign country. So easy to rob!

SandyBrit

nytraveler:

Thanks for taking the time to post. Your warning may help someone considering doing this.

Sandy

Dickie_G

NYT

Thank you for the warning, we hate hotels and probably would have attempted this in the future.

NeoP

An awful lot of what goes on around VRBO and Homeaway is based on trust. The sites themselves don't seem to give two tosses about the renters. We have been let down twice and both sites avoided our issues. There are still many good landlords out there who charge less than agencies and trust in the good nature of the renters to preserve their well maintained properties. Our recent rental in Charleston is an example of this

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p171417

Incredible place, with a fast effecient landlord.

It is so easy to leave yourself open when renting.

doug_stallings

While you can run into problems with any rental, the specifics of the situation in NYC make it more difficult to rent with confidence. Simply put, it's illegal, giving you no recourse if something goes wrong. It usually doesn't, but when it does you're just stuck. A credit card will not dispute a claim when the purchase or service is illegal, as renting an apartment for less than 30 days in NYC almost always is.

NeoPatrick

Dickie_G, you don't have to tell me about HomeAway or VRBO. Sure they are based on trust -- but I still say "only an idiot" would rent a place from one of those paying if full with a wire transfer and at the same time not having a confirmed address and phone number for the person you are dealing with! The link you provided is a whole different thing which allows payments online and provides accurate information for contacting the owner.

And others, no, I am NOT suggesting New York short term rentals are to be done illegally if at all -- I was merely pointing out that the people in the original post did a lot more wrong than simply "renting" an illegal apartment in NYC. They failed to do anything right regarding anywhere in the world they were renting -- starting with setting themselves up for no recourse and sending the "forbidden" wire transfer -- which I assume was something more like Western Union, which even sites like VRBO and Craigslist tell you to never do!