Two Port Jefferson Station women have been arrested and charged with defrauding numerous people by falsely offering a room for rent in their home, police said.
According to police, Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers received numerous complaints from individuals indicating that they had been defrauded of money paid for a room that was allegedly for rent at 18 Clifton Place in Port Jefferson Station.
Over the course of three months, the victims gave Lisa Liebetruth, 45, and Maria Rennick, 30, a total of approximately $7,000 cash for deposits and various costs for the apartment, police said.
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An investigation revealed that Liebetruth and Rennick, who both live at the Clifton Place address, would actively solicit people who had posted ads on Craigslist looking for a rental, police said.
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The women would then take a cash deposit from the victims, but never actually rented them the room, police said.
Liebetruth and Rennick never returned the money and would then avoid communication with the victims, police said.
Liebetruth, 45, was arrested on April 29 and charged with first degree scheme to defraud, a felony. She was arraigned on April 30 and was released on her own recognizance.
Rennick, 30, was arrested Thursday night and charged with first degree scheme to defraud and criminal impersonation. She was being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
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