LONG BEACH, NY — Detectives arrested a local man accused of defrauding multiple renters in a short-term rental scheme involving a property listed on VRBO.
Kyle Savage, 33, of Long Beach, was arrested Jan. 14 in connection with the alleged fraud, according to Acting Police Commissioner DePalma.
In September, Savage listed his property on VRBO and accepted payments from two out-of-state parties for the same rental period during the PGA Golf Event from Sept. 24-29, police said.
One party was from New Jersey and the other from Iowa.
After securing the bookings, Savage contacted each party individually, claiming he was removing the listing from VRBO and offering a discounted rate for a direct private rental, according to police.
Both victims agreed and paid the reduced rates after receiving short-term rental agreements.
Two hours before the scheduled check-in, and after both parties had traveled to New York and arrived near the property, Savage emailed them claiming occupancy was impossible due to a water main break, police said.
Savage became unresponsive to attempts at contact, despite later making unfulfilled promises to refund the victims, according to police.
Savage faces two counts of grand larceny in the third degree.
Anyone with information related to this case or similar incidents is encouraged to contact the Long Beach Police Department at (516) 431-1800.