Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Watch Out For This Apartment Scam
By
Lauren Evans
Published Feb 7, 2015
Modified Feb 7, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Google Maps
By
Lauren Evans
Published Feb 7, 2015
Modified Feb 7, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Here's another nightmare to watch out for when renting an apartment: The kindly man or woman ostensibly employed by a management company might just be pocketing your rent check, leaving you to get evicted in short order.
Such was the case with Thomas Ome, also known as Thomas Prince, who allegedly screwed over quite a few people by telling them to make their rent checks out to his name, instead of the company that employed him as an agent. Unsurprisingly, that money was not seen again.
Thomas Ome, aka Thomas Prince
One of Ome's alleged victims, who asked to be identified only as Tina, only found out she'd been sending her rent checks to a grifter after she was suddenly unable to get ahold of him. Tina's ordeal began in November, when she moved into an apartment on 139th Street in Harlem.
Things were fine until she tried to get in touch with Ome to pay her January rent, at which point he seemed to have disappeared. She tried calling the brokerage company who employed Ome, who allegedly advised her only "not to deal with him," though of course, by then, it was too late. Also, she realized, the building's management company said she owed the last two month's rent. Oh?
"We did a lot of our transactions and signed papers on the premises of this firm, so there was no reason to really doubt anything," she said of Ome. "And I guess he was just doing things behind their back."
After some initial back-and-forth, Tina said the brokerage company agreed to cover the back-rent that Ome stole. Police have told her she was far from his only victim: Up to 20 other people were grifted, though his story altered in each instance: Sometimes he was with the management company, sometimes he was the broker and sometimes, he was even the landlord. He also changed the apartment's locks before he fled, which creeps Tina out.
"The fact that he’s out there with our keys, and I don’t think he’ll ever return because he’s going to get caught, but it’s a little scary thinking that."
Ome still has not been caught. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Take a good look at the above photo. If he tries to rent you an apartment, for the love of God, don't do it.
Tagged
apartment scam
craigslist
crime
grand larceny
manhattan real estate
thomas ome
original
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .