# Fake agent allegedly used a dozen aliases to fleece NYC apartment hunters out of $61K

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/fake-agent-allegedly-used-a-dozen-aliases-to-fleece-nyc-apartment-hunters-out-of-61k/
- Published: 2026-11-03T18:55:39+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T19:26:09+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/03/real-estate/long-island-man-indicted-in-61k-nyc-apartment-rental-scam/
- Topics: Art, Cricket, Culture, Sport, World

## Key points

- A man is accused of defrauding 15 NYC renters of $61,625.
- The alleged scam involved eight properties and at least 11 aliases.
- Rental scam complaints in New York rose 55% from 2023 to 2025.

## Summary

A Long Island man has been indicted over allegations that he posed as a property agent and took more than $61,000 from people seeking homes in New York City. Prosecutors say he rented out properties he did not own, leaving some tenants with fake leases or unusable keys, and in one case a renter found another family already living in the apartment.

The alleged scheme ran from September 2022 to November 2023 and involved at least 15 victims, seven properties in Queens and one in Brooklyn, and $61,625 in deposits and other payments. Prosecutors say Rajat Verma used at least 11 aliases and obtained keys from landlords with forged cheques before advertising the homes. He faces 40 charges and up to seven years in prison if convicted; rental scam complaints in New York rose 55% from 2023 to 2025.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.