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Nov 30, 2007 12:03 am US/Eastern
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Internet Rental Scam Rocks Upper West Side
Victims From All Over Globe Taken In Elaborate Scheme
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
This is a story for the ages. It's a story of a scam, set upon tourists who thought they had a place to stay when they flew in to New York City on Thursday.
"We arrived and I walked up the step and I said something isn't right," Kay Garbiza said.
That's because their Upper West Side weekend rental, the one that was advertising amenities like a concierge, elevators and fitness center, didn't exist. Instead, they found Dana Lowey.
"I feel horrible for these people," Lowey said.
Lowey moved in this month with her husband and three children and says this quartet is the fourth set of victimized visitors.
"They've all said to me, it sounds too good to be true, and I guess it was but they bought into it," Lowey said.
Steve Vecchio manages the property and has seen victims come to this brownstone from all over the world.
"France, California, Australia, China," Vecchio said.
Janet Berry booked the weekend rental on the Web site "Internationalrentals.com," which can only be reached via email.
"We were having trouble getting a hotel," Berry said. "So we started e-mailing back and forth with the owner and (he said), 'We'll pick you up. Give us the details, the flight details, we'll come get you, send us the money."
So she did, to the tune of $1,200 dollars, an expensive mistake for her sister's 60th birthday gift.
"It is a New York moment," one sister said.
Added the other: "For me, it's my New York moment. She's never been to New York before and that's the reason she came."
On Thursday night, the quartet found a legitimate hotel and lugged their luggage out of Lowey's.
"It's during the holiday season. You just have to wonder about people, how low will they go? How low will they go?" Gary Garbiza said.
CBS 2 HD tried to find out but our e-mail to this Web site was bounced back and that's just what these couples are doing -- bouncing back after this shocking scam.
"The shows are back open, we're going to have a great time," Berry said.
As they go on their way, the only stranger Lowey hopes to see at her doorstep is the guy delivering dinner.
CBS 2 HD tried to reach the Web site, but our email was bounced back. The people that run the building say so far they have not received any help from local police, the FBI, or the Attorney General's office.
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