SHIRLEY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- A man claiming to be a real estate agent on Long Island was arrested late Thursday night for allegedly scamming people out of thousands of dollars.
According to officials, from January to March, 24-year-old Christian Anderson was a non-licensed realtor using the alias Benjamin Conyers.
Anderson allegedly located rental properties online and relisted them on a social media website claiming he was the realtor, Suffolk County police said.
He then arranged meetings with victims in bank parking lots in Shirley and Center Moriches and gave victims fraudulent residential agreements as well as keys in exchange for cash deposits.
Upon arrival at the rental property, the victims found their key did not work or occupants were already in the home.
Upon receiving the money from the victims, Anderson then blocked or deleted his social media account and stopped communicating with victims.
Following an investigation, detectives identified Anderson and arrested him at his Shirley home at approximately 11 p.m.
Anderson is facing grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges.
He is is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they might have been scammed to contact the Seventh Squad detectives at 631-852-8752.
