(Yelp)
May 27, 2015 Staff Report
An Astoria real estate firm that allegedly ripped off a couple who thought they had found the perfect apartment was exposed by Arnold Diaz, an investigative reporter from Pix 11 yesterday.
According to the PIX 11 report, a representative of Astoria First Realty, located at 32-05 31st Avenue, showed the couple a $2,500 per month apartment and then didn’t contacted them again after they put down a $5,000 cash deposit.
The couple discovered the scam after they reached out to the building’s owner who had no knowledge that the apartment was being rented.
The representative of the firm was Dino Ioannou, whose father Phivos owns the firm. The firm hands back the couple their money after being grilled by Diaz.
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32 Comments
Was scammed by these scumbags 3 years back after just moving here, at least I learned a valuable lesson. Hopefully he and his son are still in jail
WOW!!!
He is in jail. I’m going to the police tomorrow. We should go together.
I also was scammed by Phivos. Phivos is supposedly in jail as the reason for the office being closed down– if anyone has any information please share.
Please call me at 212-210-2473 to discuss Phivos. I am working on a story for PIX11 news.
this firm is horrible! how were they able to get a license to operate again?
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/astoria-real-estate-broker-phivos-ioannou-federal-prison-article-1.1034993
he was already in federal prison. now the son is trailing closely behind.
There’s been a multitude of scams in atsoria arnold. You can see through sifting Yelp reviews the shady behavior of agents
this guy robbed me $7000 and had to live in a hotel for 5 months. He is not in jail he has a new office still scamming people. police dont care
They just got me for $4800 dollars and I don’t know what to do the police won’t help and they closed down that office on 32nd st and all I have I the bs receipt and a phone number they not picking up. My 2 daughters and I have been staying in a hotel for a week now, my stuff in storage, I wish I had seen all this before, now I’m with zero money and I don’t know what to do.
I was also scammed by Phivos. An office employee claims he was arrested and that is the reason in which the office has been shut down. Please share any information that may help.
I was just scammed by him as well. Lost $1900. Was supposed to move ️March first now scrambling. We should go to the DA together. I spoke with my attorney and she gave me direction on what to do I am going to the police tomorrow. Please contact me asap! Thank you!
I am Arnold Diaz from PIX11 News . Please call me to discuss the Phivos case.
212-210-2473
Who is writing this stuff? “Didn’t contacted them again”?? Sheesh!
How can those people keep opening up the scam real estate offices? This is number two already and they keep scamming people.
Obvious LIARS AND SCAM ARTISTS and still allowed to operate. Why aren’t they shut down and put in jail? Long live Jesse James
THERE ALL MONEY HUNGRY AND BROKE
why is he and his son not in jail
He’s gonna call the police because they have “no right to be” there? LOL its a real estate office anyone can walk in.
Modern Spaces is awesome!! Realty executives and Astoria Park realty are scammers… I’m assuming it’s some local hole in the wall agency writing crap.
“Keep your money in your pocket until you sign a lease!”
You do realize that’s not how renting in NYC works nowadays right? That deposits are a normal thing?
some owners will take a binder deposit, which holds the apartment until the application is approved or denied. then the deposit is applied accordingly to the result of the application
We did sign a lease before he scammed us.
This is the same guy who was on 38th street & 31st ave who was doing the same shit** Stay away from AstoriaFirst* & *ModernSpaces=Bait-N-Switch* Keep your money in your pocket until you sign a lease!
i’m not a bait and switch agent for anyone who requires real estate services.
i operate with integrity and respect with all of my clients.
You can tell they are no good just from the flags hanging outside their crappy office.
Really? The “flags” are the issue? You’re no better apparently.
He uses the flag to reel in people that he feels will be intimidated by his behavior. He is gay friendly because he is he used to sell clothes on 31 st avenue and 38 for drag queens and crossdresser and went out of business…two wives left him already…..he’s using people and the system
you’re an idiot.
I can tell you’re an idiotic moron and imbecile from your post.
Another macho bigot who has an axe to grind. (Probably because you’re gay and you hate yourself). Come out of the closet already. It’s ok to be gay.
Go get your shinebox tough guy.
? Anthony…ignorance and hate is a frightening place. Get out while you still can
Flags are there because he is gay, his old real estate office 31 and 38 street was a store that catered to drag queens and cross dressers…he was going. Out of business and made It a real estate. he uses the flags to target the victims he’s looking for to take there money and they won’t say anything or possibly be intimidated by his threatening self or team members .trust me I’m Gay…Dont Go There protect yourself just a Warning..
They do business through the use of license brokers who are licensed and not even involved with the business….Phivos is Dino’s Father and has trained him to do the malicious scams that does…..being a consultant is just a rouse not to get in trouble with the licensing department of state ….Report to the Department of State he takes money daily…..
Operating as salesperson without a license and who ever is the current broker should be brought up for selling the use of their license ..he apys to use peoples brokers license….allowing him to continue to operate. And act as a consultant to avoid prosecution…..contact attorney general..concerned citizen…