Long Island Man Scammed $2,300 In Bogus Home Rental: Police

MASTIC, NY — A Rocky Point man scammed an unsuspecting woman out of thousands of dollars she believed was for a deposit on a bogus rental home in Mastic, Suffolk police said Tuesday.

Justin Campos, who used the aliases Campos Bracato and Justin Campos-Brocato, posted a property for rent on Applegate Drive on Facebook Marketplace, police said, adding that when the woman contacted him about renting it, he accepted $2,300 from her, which she sent to him in two payments through Zelle.

After she had made the second payment, she saw the property was still listed, and asked another person to contact him to inquire if it was still available with Campos responding he was still taking deposits, police said.

The woman confronted him outside the home and called police, according to a news release.

Officers ended up contacted the actual homeowner and confirmed the property was not for rent, and then arrested Campos at 10:43 p.m. on Monday, police said.

Campos, 22, was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Nov. 27.

Detectives are asking anyone who believes they may have been scammed by Campos to contact the
7th Squad at 631-852-8752.