Central Islip, NY - December 17, 2015 - Suffolk County Police have arrested a Central Islip man for a rental scam that occurred during the past week.

Third Precinct Crime Section officers initiated an investigation after a complaint of a man renting the same house to numerous individuals.  Joseph Carretto accepted cash deposits from three people who answered advertisements on Craigslist since December 13.  Carretto completed a written rental agreement and gave the victims a key.  The property was unoccupied and owned by a bank.

Carretto, 39, of Central Islip, was arrested and charged with Scheme to Defraud 2nd Degree, and three counts of Petit Larceny.

Carretto is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on December 17.

The investigation is continuing and police are asking anyone who believes they may have been the victim of Carretto and has not spoken with police to call the Third Precinct Crime Section at 631-854-8329.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.