I paid for the room upfront. Someone else was already there.

I paid first and last month upfront so I could move in on the first of the month for a new job. When I showed up with a suitcase, someone else was on the couch—and the person who took my money was not on the lease.

I found them through a housing group on social media. They toured me with photos, said the main tenant approved sublets, and pushed for Venmo that night because "three other people" were interested. I sent thousands without my name on a contract.

Unauthorized sublet scams collect deposits from several people using borrowed keys or fake access. The real leaseholder had never agreed to me—or heard my name until I knocked.

I was in a hurry to start work and told myself roommate situations move fast in expensive cities. I skipped asking for written permission from the landlord because it felt bureaucratic.

The actual leaseholder opened the door, said they had seen this before, and told me to call the police while my "roommate" blocked me mid-sentence. That hallway conversation was when the friendly tour turned into fraud.

I slept in a hostel and ate cheap for weeks, and I dodged questions at work about whether I had "settled in." The embarrassment stung as much as the lost cash.

I now need written permission from the real leaseholder or landlord on contact info I verify myself, and I refuse cash-app rent to strangers. I wish I had met the building manager before I sent anything.

• Meet on-site with someone who can prove they control the space.
• Report fraud and warn the group where you found the ad.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.