Police: Wantagh Man Charged in Craigslist Scam

A Wantagh man posted an ad on Craigslist for a Massapequa Park home available for leasing and then collected $2,500 from a prospective tenant, police said.

The problem: the man who posted the ad, 25-year-old John Wallace, does not own the home, police said.

According to police, Wallace knew the home on First Avenue was vacant when he posted the ad online. A male prospective tenant came to look at the home on Oct. 10 and was shown the inside by Wallace, police said. The victim returned on Oct. 13 to see the house again and then gave Wallace $2,500, police said.

An investigation led to Wallace being placed under arrest on Friday afternoon on South Main Street in Freeport. He is charged with two counts of second degree burglary and fourth degree grand larceny. He will be arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police are asking anyone who has information about this crime or thinks they may be victim of Wallace to contact the Seventh Squad at 516-573-6752.

Wallace has made headlines in the past:

• Snowy Footprints Lead Cops to Burglary Duo
• Three Arrested in Dairy Barn Burglary
• Massapequa Man Charged in Seaford Dairy Barn Theft