Fake Craigslist Landlord Rented Out Homes He Didn't Own: Police

A Queens man has been accused of posting for-rent ads on Craiglist for properties he didn't own -- and then renting them out to unwitting "tenants."

Terrence Hill was charged with grand larceny and burglary after his arrest Wednesday.

Authorities allege he collected more than $5,000 in payments from three renters in a scheme in which he identified empty homes on Long Island and put them up for rent on Craiglist even though he didn't own them.

Hill allegedly posed as the owner of a home on Elm Street in Valley Stream and agreed to rent it to two people who responded to his Craigslist ad. Police say he allegedly accepted a $1,600 down payment from them last Friday. On Wednesday, the rightful homeowner went to the home to do a routine check and found the two "tenants" in the house. The homeowner then called police.

When Hill went to the home later Wednesday, allegedly to collect more money from the two people who responded to his ad, he was arrested.

A subsequent investigation revealed Hill had allegedly rented another unoccupied residence -- this one on Cerenzia Boulevard in Elmont -- to another Craiglist ad respondent on Aug. 1, and collected $3,800.

It wasn't immediately clear if Hill had an attorney.

Anyone who thinks he or she may have been victimized by Hill is asked to call 516-573-6453.

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