The hunt is on for a serial scammer who’s been preying on desperate renters in Hell’s Kitchen.
Police are searching for 43-year-old Nicholas Fuelling, who is accused of posing as a landlord and swindling multiple would-be tenants with fake apartment listings, PIX11 reported. No arrests have been made, but police are soliciting tips from the public. A “WANTED” poster claims there is probable cause for arrest in connection with grand larceny.
In one case, Fuelling allegedly took a $6,400 security deposit from a 25-year-old man after showing him a unit at 334 West 47th Street on Aug. 8.
Another 24-year-old signed what appeared to be a legitimate lease via DocuSign, only to learn the deal was bogus. He discovered the fraud when he started looking for a roommate, according to ABC7 New York, only to find another person who claimed to have leased the apartment.
Council member Erik Bottcher, who has been amplifying the warnings on social media, said Fuelling’s schemes have duped more than one renter; several victims came forward after the first complaint. At least nine alleged victims have been communicating with one another via group chat.
“He was a master of deception,” Bottcher told PIX11, adding that Fuelling even backed up his persona with an Instagram presence to appear legitimate. Residents told the outlet that he may live in the area.
Big Apple Management appears to be the management company of the building. The management company released a statement to ABC7, noting that it had sent Fuelling a cease-and-desist letter.
“We were surprised and horrified to hear about the alleged scams being conducted by one of our tenants Nicholas Fuelling and upon hearing of the same, we have taken swift legal action against him to help ensure the same doesn’t continue,” the statement said.
The scams shed light on the perils of New York’s overheated rental market, where a tight supply and soaring prices can prompt renters to rush into questionable deals. Many of Fuelling’s victims reportedly found the listings on Facebook Marketplace, a platform often flagged by consumer advocates for lack of vetting.
It’s yet another cautionary tale for renters chasing apartments in one of the most competitive housing markets: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
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