Full Breakdown
Surge in Rental-Scam Complaints Amid New York’s Housing Shortage
7/17/2026, 8:34:24 PM
Rise in Rental Scams Tied to the Housing Crisis
A sharp increase in alleged rental-fraud complaints has accompanied New York’s ongoing housing shortage. According to data from the New York Department of State, complaints about suspected rental scams rose 55 % over the past few years, with 378 recorded in 2023, 568 in 2024, and 589 in 2025. The trend continues into 2026, which is “on pace with the last two years.” Scammers exploit the scarcity of listings by posting fake apartments and demanding deposits or first-month rent before a physical showing.
Complaint Data and National Scope
The Federal Trade Commission reports that Americans have filed 65,000 alleged rental-scam complaints and lost roughly $65 million since 2020. In New York, the surge is reflected in the state-level figures above, underscoring a broader national problem amplified by local market pressures.
Official Responses from Industry and Regulators
Real-estate broker Robert Swiderski, CEO of RealTegrity, advises renters to verify agents’ credentials, suggesting they request a broker’s pocket card when unsure of identity. Apartments.com and Realtor.com say they have “safeguards in place,” including user-flagging tools that allow listings to be removed or listers blocked after reports. The FTC characterizes the activity as “predatory” and continues to monitor consumer complaints.
Tenant Criticism and Calls for Platform Reform
Allyson Becker, a tenant who encountered a bogus one-bedroom listing in Jackson Heights, Queens, described the practice as “predatory” and “awful,” arguing that platforms should do more verification before listings go live. She noted that similar fraudulent ads appeared on Redfin and Realtor.com, prompting those sites to remove the listings after her notification.
Verbatim Quotes
- “After I stopped laughing that I thought that was stupid, I was enraged because there's probably people who aren't from here and don't know better, and think that's how it works and are giving this guy their money,” — Allyson Becker, tenant
- “It was never a real apartment” — Robert Swiderski, licensed broker, CEO of RealTegrity
- “Unfortunately, it has become rampant,” — Robert Swiderski
- “Because it's such a shortage of rental listings, people have been paying the person on the other end of the phone a deposit or first month's rent just based on a virtual tour without actually seeing the apartment in person, and then they come to find out that it was never a real apartment to begin with.” — Robert Swiderski
- “You're taking advantage of people at a time when they really need help," she said.” — Allyson Becker
These developments highlight how New York’s rental scarcity is fueling fraud, prompting both regulatory attention and demands for stronger online-marketplace safeguards.
