A man rented out apartments on a hotel-style basis, then sublet them long-term without the owners’ knowledge

Prosecutors from the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest District 5 Court have indicted a man accused of defrauding 35 people after illegally subletting apartments in residential complexes between October 2025 and February 2026. The damage is estimated at approximately 12,000 euros and 36,000 lei.

According to investigators, the man rented apartments on a short-term, hotel-style basis through an online platform, selecting homes in new residential complexes that he could access using keys kept in lockboxes. He subsequently posted advertisements offering to sublet them long-term, without the owners’ knowledge.

The suspect concluded fictitious contracts and, in order to conceal the flow of money, allegedly opened electronic cryptocurrency wallets in the victims’ names without their knowledge.

Initially, 15 people alerted the authorities. During the investigation, prosecutors identified 20 additional victims. The man is under judicial supervision and will stand trial for fraud and computer forgery, both as continuing offenses. The case was sent to the Bucharest District 5 Court.