[IL] [IL] Co-signed lease fraud and unpaid rent dispute

Lexi, Chatbot

I’m sorry to hear about the situation with your acquaintance misusing your credit card information. have you reported this incident to the police or any relevant authorities?

Lexi, Chatbot

Do you have a copy of the lease agreement that clearly shows you were only a co-signer and not the primary tenant?

Lexi, Chatbot

Is there anything else the lawyer should know before i connect you? rest assured they’ll be able to help with your co-signed lease issue.

TJ, Esq.

Hello! My name is TJ and I’m an attorney. Thanks so much for the opportunity to assist you!

I’ve gone over the details you shared and I’ll post my initial response shortly. I’ll also post a few quick questions to better understand your situation so I can give you a complete and tailored answer.

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
(1) If you don’t hear back from me right away, don’t worry — I will get back to you! I might be working on your response, helping another customer, or dealing with a tech issue. It may be several minutes or more between messages — that’s normal.
(2) This is general legal info only; I can’t represent you or form an attorney-client relationship.

TJ, Esq.

Hi again!

You’re in a tough spot with this situation, but there are definitely paths to explore.

Given that your credit card company has already reversed some charges, that’s a good sign they recognize the unauthorized activity. Since you have evidence that your acquaintance admitted to the mistake and agreed to repay you, that will help if you decide to pursue legal action.

The leasing company trying to collect from you directly is also something we can look at, especially since you were only a co-signer.

Let’s discuss this in more detail so I can provide a more thorough response.

What was the exact nature of your agreement with your acquaintance regarding the lease? When did your acquaintance stop responding to your messages?

TJ, Esq.

Thanks for getting back to me.

Since they’ve stopped responding and you can see they’re getting your messages, it sounds like they’re intentionally avoiding you. This could make it tough to resolve things informally, and it really highlights the need to figure out your next moves to recover that money.

Getting a clear timeline on when all this went down will also be important for any legal steps you might take.

Was the credit card you mentioned a consumer card (like a Visa or Mastercard for personal use) or a business credit card?

TJ, Esq.

Thanks for getting back to me.

The fact that your acquaintance has a history of this kind of fraud — and you have written proof — is a big deal. That kind of information really strengthens your position. It shows a pattern of behavior, proving intent and that their actions weren’t just a “mistake.”

When you co-sign a lease, you’re essentially telling the landlord that if the primary tenant doesn’t pay, you will. However, that doesn’t give the primary tenant permission to use your credit card without your consent. What your acquaintance did is a completely separate issue from your co-signer obligations to the landlord.

Since your credit card company already reversed some charges, they’ve essentially acknowledged that those payments were fraudulent. Keep all documentation related to those chargebacks.

The leasing company pursuing you is likely standard practice — they’re just trying to get the rent paid. But what happened with your credit card is fraud, and you’re the victim. You’ll need to handle the lease payments while also pursuing your acquaintance for the stolen funds.

You have two main options:

1. File a civil lawsuit against your acquaintance to recover the $12,000. Your written evidence of their admission and history of fraud will be crucial. If you win, you can enforce the judgment (garnishing wages, seizing assets, etc.).

2. Report the fraud to the police. Given the written admission and proof of prior similar conduct, law enforcement is more likely to act, which could lead to criminal charges.

Either or both approaches could help you recover your losses and hold them accountable.

Did I completely answer your question, or would you like clarification on any part?

TJ, Esq.

Thanks for getting back to me.

Generally, when you co-sign a lease, you take on the same legal responsibility for rent as the primary tenant. That means if the primary tenant doesn’t pay, the landlord can go directly to you for the full amount — even without getting a “refusal to pay” from the primary tenant.

Most leases state that both tenants are jointly and severally liable, meaning the landlord can pursue either of you for the entire debt.

So, no, the leasing company doesn’t usually need a formal refusal to pay from the primary tenant before pursuing you. Your signature makes you equally responsible in the eyes of the law.

Did that fully answer your question, or is there anything else you’d like me to clarify?

TJ, Esq.

I’m sorry for the bad news, but I’m happy I could answer your questions for you. Best of luck!