An East Village real-estate agent turned out to be one big phony, authorities said. Renato Bardini, 48, showed an apartment seeker a place on East Third Street near First Avenue last month, authorities said.
The victim wanted to move in and gave Bardini a $500 security deposit and a $75 “application fee.”
The faux agent also showed the apartment to another victim, who gave him more than $3,000 for rent, deposits and fees.
It’s not clear how the fraudster accessed the apartment. Bardini was charged with third-degree grand larceny, scheming to defraud and petit larceny.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Report: fake real estate agent soaks 2 people for security deposits
From the NYPD Daily Blotter in the Post today:
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9 comments:
More soaking? I thought Jeremiah covered this already ;)
Only $500 for a security deposit on an EV apt? That should have raised some alarm bells right there.
I always wonder about that Billy guy who constantly has ads up for apartments for rent in buildings on 13th between A and First. When you go there they take you to other buildings. There are never apartments in the buildings they put the ads on. Anyone else dealt with them? I looked at one of the apartments they took us to with a friend but didn't take it. Seemed weird.
The security deposit belongs to you and when you move, you should get it back if you've taken care of the rental. If you give most landlords respect and have tried to follow the rules of the contract, you have good reason to expect that they will do the same. Before taking legal steps, try to negotiate with them.
My friends were JUST scammed by this guy! He goes by the name Ray Bardi but still hands out cards from Souvenir Realty on Hester!!!!
He's still at it, I almost fell for his scam if it wasn't for this article.
Rather similar to the EV is Braintree in the UK and Estate Agents here have to be properly icensed to represent and make sales and rentals of apartments happen. There should be some regulation that insists that estate agents have to prove their authenticity or registration details before being allowed to practice! This is simply unethical!
I'm looking at an apt with Ray Bardi now -- can you tell me what happened / what to watch out for?
@ 7:16...From the description, it seems like you'd have to look out for everything and just not do business with him at all.
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