Police: Scammers Took Deposits For House That Wasn't For Rent In Linden, N.J.

LINDEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police issued a warning Monday night for would-be renters looking for affordable housing.

As CBS2's Lou Young reported, scammers are advertising vacant properties online – taking deposits and in some cases, giving tours.

One renter, who asked not to be identified, was talking Monday night about the woman who called herself "Myrna."

"She had the key," the renter said. "She came up these stairs, took out the key, opened the door and let us right in."

The renter said "Myrna" took multiple deposits from multiple people for one apartment, which was not hers to rent out in the first place.

At issue is the ground floor of a home in Linden, New Jersey, which was advertised on Craigslist.

"We know who the owner is," said Linden police Capt. James Sarnecki. "The place is not for rent, contrary to what is advertised on the internet."

It is not a luxury house, but it has two bedrooms on the ground floor. The three young couples needing more room figured that at $1,100 a month, it seemed like a good deal. But it wasn't.

"She saw I was pregnant with my son," said would-be renter Katherine Muriello. "I found it kind of weird, because she was wanting the money like right away -- but where's the keys?"

The home's fake owner, "Marco," spoke on the phone with the renters.

"From the jump, he didn't want to take a check -- no paper trail," said scammed renter Mario Gomes.

But "Marco's" phony property manager set minds at ease. She did all the collecting and lease-signing at meetings at the public library where a would-be renter grabbed a photo of her.

"She looked very confident; wasn't hiding from anybody," said the renter who did not want her name used. "She looked legitimate."

"Myrna" took nearly $6,000 in cash from three couples. Some of them met for the first time as CBS2 arrived to do the story – their affordable housing dream dashed.

"Sometimes you know, when you get that feeling it's too good to be true, maybe it really is too good to be true," Gomes said.

Police suspect there could be additional victims.

Police believe the scammers might actually be former tenants of the now-vacant house, who were evicted but kept the key.