I'm moving to the US and found a sublet in Williamsburg. I have no credit score or job yet, but showed proof of funds. I'm being asked to pay the deposit via PayPal to the outgoing roommate without seeing the master lease or speaking to the landlord. How can I verify if a sublet is legitimate and protect myself from scams?
Do not send the PayPal deposit yet; pay only after the leaseholder’s authority, the apartment, the legal route, and a signed agreement all check out independently.
You are right to pause: the missing lease, absent independent owner confirmation, and request to pay a departing person are serious red flags, but they can be tested with documents and official records. Having no U.S. credit score or job does not take away the one-month deposit cap or require you to accept an unsafe payment process.
