Website Operator Charged With Defrauding More Than 2,000 Victims In New York City Apartment Search Scam
summary
Robert Guzman, a 42-year-old Bronx resident without a real estate license, was charged with mail fraud for operating fraudulent rental websites that deceived over 2,000 victims into paying more than $100,000 in non-refundable application fees for non-existent or misrepresented New York City apartments.
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Robert Guzman, a 42-year-old Bronx resident with no real estate license, was charged with mail fraud for running the fraudulent websites amazingapartmentrentals.com and equityproject.net between 2013 and 2016. He tricked over 2,000 victims into paying over $100,000 in 'application fees' to view rental listings that were either false, for sale, or located outside New York City. No apartments were ever made available, and payments were sent to a P.O. box, enabling his scheme to persist for years.
narrative
Robert Guzman, a 42-year-old Bronx resident with no real estate license, was charged with mail fraud for operating the fraudulent rental websites amazingapartmentrentals.com and equityproject.net between 2013 and 2016. He deceived over 2,000 victims into paying more than $100,000 in non-refundable 'application fees' under the false pretense of securing access to New York City apartments. The listed units were either not for rent, already sold, located outside the city, or entirely fabricated. Victims mailed payments to a P.O. box provided on the websites, allowing Guzman to collect funds without ever providing any rental services. The scheme exploited the high demand for affordable housing in NYC, preying on vulnerable renters seeking legitimate opportunities. Guzman’s lack of licensing and the deceptive nature of the listings were central to the federal prosecution. Authorities uncovered the fraud after multiple complaints and financial tracing, leading to his arrest and charges. The case highlights the dangers of online rental scams and the importance of verifying property listings through licensed agents.
Classified advance-fee(confidence 95%). No EDGAR filing fingerprint (criminal/DOJ-side scheme). detection rule →
Statutes
Parties
robert guzmanthis morningu.s. attorney's office, southern district of new york
Keywords
newwebsitevictimsguzmanavailable rentlinkcitygovernment non-governmentnon-government sitessites typicallytypically appearappear externalexternal linklink iconicon indicate
Extracted insights
Dollar amounts 1
- $100K $100,000 $100K–$1M
Entities 5
- person robert guzman
- scheme_term the filing of a criminal complaint charging robert guzman with mail fraud
- person this morning
- agency u.s. attorney's office, southern district of new york
- scheme_term with mail fraud
Triples 9
- U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Announced the filing of a criminal complaint charging ROBERT GUZMAN with mail fraud
- ROBERT GUZMAN Posted apartments supposedly available for rent in New York City on websites he operated
- ROBERT GUZMAN Charged a fee to view the apartments on the Website
- Victims Paid GUZMAN more than $100,000
- GUZMAN Defrauded more than 2,000 victims of over $100,000
- GUZMAN Was arrested this morning
- Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Said Robert Guzman allegedly defrauded more than 2,000 victims who were searching for a place to live in New York City
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service Exemplifies our Agency’s commitment to bring individuals to justice whose greed overshadows honesty and decency
- GUZMAN Was charged with mail fraud
Extracted body text (4,884c)
Press Release Website Operator Charged With Defrauding More Than 2,000 Victims In New York City Apartment Search Scam Wednesday, January 25, 2017 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced today the filing of a criminal complaint charging ROBERT GUZMAN with mail fraud in connection with a fraudulent apartment rental scheme that claimed more than 2,000 victims. As alleged, GUZMAN posted apartments supposedly available for rent in New York City on websites he operated, amazingapartmentrentals.com and www.equityproject.netLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. (the “Websites”), that charged a fee to view the apartments on the Website. Between 2013 and 2016, victims paid GUZMAN (who has no real estate licenses) more than $100,000, but were never able to view the apartments purportedly available for rent on the Websites, some of which were not, in fact, in New York City, and others of which were not, in fact, available for rent. GUZMAN was arrested this morning and will be presented before the Honorable James C. Francis IV later today. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Robert Guzman allegedly defrauded more than 2,000 victims who were searching for a place to live in New York City. He allegedly created websites that took advantage of these victims’ desire to find affordable housing in New York city, taking fees from victims to view apartments, when in fact some of the apartments were not even in New York or available for rent. Thanks to the work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Guzman’s alleged scam has been put to an end.” USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett said: “Mr. Guzman took advantage of the need for affordable housing by allegedly devising a scheme to defraud those who could least afford to lose their hard-earned funds to a scam. Today’s arrest by Postal Inspectors, exemplifies our Agency’s commitment to bring individuals to justice whose greed overshadows honesty and decency.” According to the Complaint[1]: From 2013 through the present, GUZMAN would post on the Websites apartments supposedly available for rent in New York City, and would charge a fee to view the apartments (the “Application Fee”). The Website included listings for apartments that were not, in fact, in New York City, as well as some that were, in fact, listed for sale, not for rent, by actual real estate companies. After the victims mailed the Application Fee to a P.O. box GUZMAN provided on the Website, the victims would never be able to view the apartments purportedly available for rent. Between 2013 and 2016, GUZMAN defrauded more than 2,000 victims of over $100,000. * * * GUZMAN, 42, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested this morning in the Bronx. GUZMAN was charged with mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Bharara praised the efforts of the USPIS in this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Warren is in charge of the prosecution. The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1]Links to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Updated January 25, 2017 Topics Consumer Protection Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 17-021
OCR text (4,884c · plain-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Website Operator Charged With Defrauding More Than 2,000 Victims In New York City Apartment Search Scam Wednesday, January 25, 2017 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced today the filing of a criminal complaint charging ROBERT GUZMAN with mail fraud in connection with a fraudulent apartment rental scheme that claimed more than 2,000 victims. As alleged, GUZMAN posted apartments supposedly available for rent in New York City on websites he operated, amazingapartmentrentals.com and www.equityproject.netLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. (the “Websites”), that charged a fee to view the apartments on the Website. Between 2013 and 2016, victims paid GUZMAN (who has no real estate licenses) more than $100,000, but were never able to view the apartments purportedly available for rent on the Websites, some of which were not, in fact, in New York City, and others of which were not, in fact, available for rent. GUZMAN was arrested this morning and will be presented before the Honorable James C. Francis IV later today. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Robert Guzman allegedly defrauded more than 2,000 victims who were searching for a place to live in New York City. He allegedly created websites that took advantage of these victims’ desire to find affordable housing in New York city, taking fees from victims to view apartments, when in fact some of the apartments were not even in New York or available for rent. Thanks to the work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Guzman’s alleged scam has been put to an end.” USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett said: “Mr. Guzman took advantage of the need for affordable housing by allegedly devising a scheme to defraud those who could least afford to lose their hard-earned funds to a scam. Today’s arrest by Postal Inspectors, exemplifies our Agency’s commitment to bring individuals to justice whose greed overshadows honesty and decency.” According to the Complaint[1]: From 2013 through the present, GUZMAN would post on the Websites apartments supposedly available for rent in New York City, and would charge a fee to view the apartments (the “Application Fee”). The Website included listings for apartments that were not, in fact, in New York City, as well as some that were, in fact, listed for sale, not for rent, by actual real estate companies. After the victims mailed the Application Fee to a P.O. box GUZMAN provided on the Website, the victims would never be able to view the apartments purportedly available for rent. Between 2013 and 2016, GUZMAN defrauded more than 2,000 victims of over $100,000. * * * GUZMAN, 42, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested this morning in the Bronx. GUZMAN was charged with mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Bharara praised the efforts of the USPIS in this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Warren is in charge of the prosecution. The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1]Links to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Updated January 25, 2017 Topics Consumer Protection Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 17-021