HELL’S KITCHEN, Manhattan (WABC) — Aspiring model Miguel Márchese moved to New York City chasing dreams — but instead walked into a nightmare. The two-bedroom apartment in Hell’s Kitchen he found on Facebook, and toured twice, turned out to be part of an elaborate rental scam.
Márchese isn’t alone. At least eight other victims have come forward, claiming they were also duped by the same alleged scammer — Nicholas Fuelling — and lost thousands in the process.
“We have a huge group chat called ‘We’ve Been Scammed,’ and there’s nine of us so far,” Márchese told Eyewitness News.
The Hell’s Kitchen apartment at 334 West 47th Street, listed for $3,200/month, seemed like a rare NYC gem. Fuelling, the alleged scammer, built a rapport with each potential tenant. He appeared genuine — providing IDs, a lease via DocuSign, and even sharing personal stories about his own move to the city.
Márchese paid $6,400 through Cash App, only to later discover that others had done the same.
Red flags began to surface. “He was always distracted, on his phone,” Márchese recalled. He also noticed other women waiting to tour the apartment, even after he believed he had secured it.
Eventually, a woman named Maria contacted him, saying she had also signed the lease and paid Fuelling the same amount. That was the moment it all unraveled.
Soon, more victims surfaced. “Every few days, someone new messaged us. It just kept happening,” Márchese said.
Maria Cordeiro and Nathalia Matias also shared their stories. Both were lured in by Fuelling’s convincing persona and documentation. When suspicions grew, their friends posed as potential tenants — and Fuelling was still actively showing the unit.
“Three of our friends asked if the apartment was available, and he said yes,” Cordeiro said.
Fuelling had access to the unit because it was his own. He claimed he had recently landed a new job and needed to sublet the apartment quickly.
When the truth became clear, Márchese went straight to the NYPD. “I didn’t leave until I had a case number,” he said. “This man is destroying lives. I’m fully independent — I have no family to fall back on.”
As of now, police are searching for 43-year-old Nicholas Fuelling, who is wanted for grand larceny in connection with the scam.
