SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Scranton woman is facing felony charges after police say she was renting out apartments she didn’t own.
There are still many questions as to how the woman was able to allegedly fool apartment hunters, but what we do know is that there are ways renters can protect themselves from scams like this one going forward.
Nicole Palmitessa is being charged by Scranton detectives with felony counts of forgery and theft by deception as well as other related criminal charges.
These charges come after Lidia Davila, Palmitessa’s landlord, told police that Palmitessa had been renting out vacant apartments without her permission, even going as far as allegedly signing Davila’s name on a lease she gave to a tenant.
28/22 News reached out to Davila for comment but did not receive a response back.
28/22 News did however speak with a local real estate agent, who had advice for renters looking to avoid getting ripped off.
“Make sure you’re comfortable with the area, and if you had to, definitely ask some of the neighbors exactly how the area is, or have they heard anything about that particular landlord,” Classic Properties Salesperson and Associate Broker Ellen Rudis explained.
In other words, knowing who the landlord is can help renters make a more informed decision when looking for an apartment.
Rudis says going through an established agent to find a place to rent should add another layer of protection.
“My first recommendation though would definitely be to secure or at least know a real estate agent that could assist you,” Rudis continued.
While many landlords already work with agents to list their properties, this isn’t always the case. Contacting an agent will help you avoid being left out in the cold.
“Using a real estate agent when you are a tenant is probably even more important because we do the proper vetting,” Rudis added.
Now, according to the affidavit written by Scranton Police, Palmitessa stole $800 per month from one tenant between March and August of 2024 and $1,300 from two others.
Scranton Police were unable to comment as this is an active investigation, but we will provide updates to you as they become available.
