Got Scammed by a Google employee after moving to Mountain View in November 2024 — warning for anyone relocating fast

I moved from Chicago to Mountain View in November 2024 to start a new job and had just one week to find housing. In a rush, I found a room through a Facebook group and connected with a woman who said she worked at Google.

She told me the rent for the room was $2,700/month and asked for a $1,400 deposit. Given the urgency, I paid both the deposit and first month’s rent (November) right away.

But things quickly felt shady:

• For December, I started asking for utility bills so I could pay my fair share. She refused to share them.
• She claimed the Wi-Fi cost $60/month, but wouldn’t provide a bill or even the Xfinity account number, saying it was under a “Google account” and she couldn’t access it.
• Every time I asked for details or receipts, she avoided the conversation or gave vague excuses.

It became clear she was being dishonest and likely overcharging me. I felt taken advantage of, especially as someone new to the area with limited time and no local support network.

Just putting this out there as a caution to others:
No matter how rushed you are or how “legit” someone seems (even if they work at a major tech company), always get a written agreement, ask to see the bills, and don’t transfer money without full transparency.

Happy to answer questions or share more details if it helps others avoid a similar experience.