We got an email on Saturday from a incredulous reader pointing out that a $4.5 million brownstone listing on Washington Park had just popped up on the New York Times. Say what? With a little digging, the whole thing really started to stink. The ad from DJK Residential was using “borrowed” photos from an old Brooklyn Properties listing for, we believe, 181 Washington Park. When you clicked through to the DJK web site, though, the map location said 192 Washington Park, an impossible address based on the the backyard photo. So a friend of the original tipster gave the broker, Ken Smith, call. Surprise, surprise: Within 24 hours of the listing popping up, it was already in contract! But, of course, the broker would be more than happy to show her something else. Here was Ken’s reply email:

Thank You for your enquiry but this house is no longer available. I will be happy to assist you with other properties if you remain interested. I am expecting some details with regard to a similar property also located in a hi-end Brooklyn neighborhood.

Pretty darn fishy.
192 Washington Park [NY Times]