Have I been scammed?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’m starting grad school in July and have thus been looking for an apartment near my school. I looked at several places that were nice enough, but wouldn’t accept me due to my low grad school income (I could afford the place, but apparently that’s not my decision to make, and that’s a whole 'nother thread).

Then I found one really nice apartment. Spacious, five minuites from the school, at the bottom end of my price range (but not yet into “too good to be true” territory), and best of all, the landlord didn’t seem to be overly concerned with my icome. Hell, he didn’t even want a security deposit, just last month’s rent. I paid on the spot. He gave me an application to fill out and fax back to him.

I couldn’t access a fax until tuesday (what with the holiday). The number didn’t work. Called the guy and left a message. No return call. Repeat all through the week. No reply. Am I being paranoid or is this really suspicious? Shouldn’t a landlord be slightly more interested in clinching the deal than this guy seems to be?

At what point should I give up and call the police? Or are they even teh ones to call?

2

I’m thinking it’s odd.

If the check hasn’t cleared you might try putting a stop on it.

Unless you paid in cash.

Tell me you didn’t.

3

No, but stopping payment is problematic since it’s not my usual bank, but the remnants of my tuition fund.

4

At least tell us you got a receipt.

You should go over there and confront him. If it’s bogus, call the police and take them to this guy. They won’t do anything, it’s a civil matter, but you can take him to small claims court, and a police report will help as far as documentation.
Meanwhile, you should consider the $$ gone and look for something else.

5

If it is a scam, he’s cashed the check long before now.