By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE — A man staying at a Southgate hotel said he lost $220 on March 22 to a man offering to rent a house to him on Sibley Road in Rivergate, which was listed on Facebook Marketplace.
The victim sent a $220 application fee through a cash app on March 20, and was then asked for a $500 security deposit. When the alleged renter did not want to meet him in person, and instead asked for the money via gift cards, the potential renter became suspicious and asked for his application fee back.
He said he received a call from another man claiming to be an attorney for the property management company, but the man hung up when he was asked for the name of the law firm. He said the ad is still posted on Facebook Marketplace.