Woman Arrested For Rental Scam: Police

A Bayport woman is accused of running a room rental scam.

According to Suffolk Police, between September 2017 and June 2018, Virginia Wimmer advertised a room for rent in her home, located at 510 Gillette Ave., on Craigslist. On five separate occasions, potential renters gave Wimmer between $600 and $1,200 as deposits on the room, police said.

As the move-in date approached, Wimmer would tell the renter the room was no longer available and refused to return the deposits, police said.

One woman started a GoFundMe in May to attempt to recoup the $700 that she says Wimmer stole from her.

"I'm 7 months pregnant & this has really broken me after all the hard work I put in to save this money for an apartment before my daughter arrives in August," the woman wrote on the fundraising page.

Wimmer, a former math teacher at Connetquot High School, is charged with first degree scheme to defraud. Police are asking anyone who may have been a victim of Wimmer to contact the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.

SCPD photo