Long Island Man Allegedly Posed As A Real Estate Agent And Rented Out Apartments He Did Not Own, Pocketing $61,625 Until One Renter Arrived To Find Another Family Already Living There

Finding an apartment in New York City can feel like winning the lottery. For some renters in Queens and Brooklyn, prosecutors say the winning ticket was a fake. A Long Island man is accused of posing as a real estate agent and renting out apartments he did not own, pocketing more than $61,000, according to the New York Post.

A hand holds a key up to a door, illustrating a rental handover.

Some victims were left with worthless keys and bogus leases. In one case, a renter showed up ready to move in and found another family already living there.

“Another Family Had Already Beaten Them To It”

Rajat Verma, 35, of Franklin Square, allegedly rented out apartments he did not own, sometimes promising the same property to more than one tenant, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors say the scheme targeted at least 15 victims across Queens and Brooklyn, taking a combined $61,625 in security deposits and other rental payments.

One victim showed up to move in, only to discover another family had already arrived after apparently falling for the same scheme.

The Alleged Trick Began With Forged Checks

The way he supposedly pulled it off was almost as brazen as the scam itself. According to prosecutors, Verma first played the role of apartment hunter, approaching small landlords and securing properties with forged checks.

Before the landlords realized the payments were bogus, he allegedly got hold of the keys and began advertising the apartments online as available rentals.

He then collected thousands of dollars from eager renters, handing over phony leases and, in some cases, keys that would not even open the front door, the indictment alleges.

Eleven Aliases And A Long List Of Neighborhoods

The rental racket ran from September 2022 through November 2023 and involved seven properties in Queens and one in Brooklyn. The Queens locations included Glen Oaks, Rego Park, College Point, Ozone Park, Hollis and Maspeth.

Verma also cycled through at least 11 aliases, along with different phone numbers and email addresses, according to the DA’s office. Among his purported alter egos were Rajib “Raj” Sharma, Sammy Miah, Barry Padmanabhan, Bobby Gupta, Dave Mair and Ahmed Abbas.

“As alleged, this defendant took advantage of those seeking housing by purporting to be a real estate agent and renting out properties that did not belong to him,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “The unsuspecting tenants gave him payments and signed phony leases that left them without their money and housing.”

A 40-Count Indictment, And A Court Date In November

Verma was arraigned Oct. 29 on a 40-count indictment that includes charges of scheme to defraud, grand larceny, identity theft, criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of forged instruments.

He faces up to seven years behind bars if convicted and is scheduled to return to court Nov. 23. The charges are allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Rental Scam Complaints Keep Climbing

The case is one more wrinkle in a rental market where finding an affordable place is already tough. Complaints about suspected rental scams in New York state rose 55% between 2023 and 2025, from 378 to 589, according to state data obtained by CBS News New York.

Nationally, consumers reported nearly 65,000 rental scams and approximately $65 million in losses between January 2020 and June 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Those numbers describe a lot of families who handed over a deposit and got nothing back.

For renters, the lesson is as old as the hills: if something about the deal feels rushed, it deserves a second look. Rental scammers rely on the fact that a great apartment disappears fast, so they push people to pay before they think.

How To Protect Yourself Before You Hand Over A Deposit

The alleged scheme worked because people were in a hurry and wanted the apartment badly. Slowing down is your best defense, and these are general tips any renter can use.

Verify who owns the building. Many cities offer free online property records, and you can compare the owner’s name with the person showing you the unit.
Check an agent’s license with your state’s licensing office before paying anyone who says they are an agent.
Never pay a deposit before you have seen the unit in person and confirmed the person with the keys has the right to rent it.
Be cautious about cash, gift cards and wire transfers. Payments that are hard to trace or reverse are what scammers prefer.
Be wary of pressure. A line such as “there are other people ready to take it today” is a classic nudge to skip your homework.
Ask the building manager or a neighbor whether the person is really handling rentals there.
Read any lease carefully and keep copies of every message, receipt and ad.

If you think you have been scammed, report it to local police, your state attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission right away. The sooner you report, the better the chance that others are spared.

A legitimate landlord or agent will not mind your questions. If someone does, that tells you something worth knowing.

Willow and Hearth