October 26, 2010 12:35 AM
An out-of-state scheme appears to be targeting delinquent tax property in Putnam, complete with unauthorized "sales" and fake deeds.
Local officials say deals on 13 pieces of property have been spotted so far.
"They are selling property that is not theirs," county Property Appraiser Tim Parker said. "They are forging the deeds from property owners in our county to themselves and are selling some of the property through eBay."
Letters were sent last week to new property owners telling them to immediately contact the property appraiser's office.
"We told them that it is urgent that they contact our office," he said. "We didn't want to use the word fraudulent because we don't know that in every case that is what is going on although it is highly suspected."
Parker said property that has delinquent taxes is being targeted for the fraudulent sales under the theory that owners aren't paying much attention.
"They are small lots in not the best areas so they are getting these people for $1,000 or $2,000," he said.
The property is spread throughout the county.
The false deeds were discovered when Molly Melfi, a county deed employee, discovered a discrepancy in a landowner's signature.
"When she looked at the signature she said, 'I know that signature and that is not his signature,'" Parker said. "When you really think about it, it was an amazing feat for her to catch that."
Melfi's discovery triggered a search for others. Parker said he checked to see if the company involved in the fraudulent sales had been involved in any other sales in Florida, but came up empty.
"But with their methods they could come up with any name," he said.
Research into the company involved in the fraudulent sales by Parker's office discovered that the deeds might be being prepared in two states.
"They are selling property to people in California, their mailing address is Texas and the notary is in Nevada and the property is in Florida," he said. "It is kind of scary how they are doing this."
Putnam resident Craig Sherar said he recently learned one of his properties is involved.
Sherar said the property was posted and sold on Ebay for about $1,000.
"I called EBay about it last week and they could pretty much care less," he said.
Calls by the Daily News to EBay for comment were not returned.
"I think the company's name is New Horizon Land Sales. The lady that's got my property I called her and she has never called me back," Sherar said.
Property owners can protect themselves by simply checking their property tax notices, Parker said.
"Make sure you get a tax bill," he said. "If you don't get a tax bill and you know you own property there is a chance we didn't recognize it as being a fraudulent deed and we have transferred it to an individual."
Parker warned that changing the deed back to the original owner could be a challenge.
"What has happened now is it created a cloud on their title," he said. "Then there has got to be something done to clear up that title and it can be a real headache."
An out-of-state scheme appears to be targeting delinquent tax property in Putnam, complete with unauthorized "sales" and fake deeds.
Local officials say deals on 13 pieces of property have been spotted so far.
"They are selling property that is not theirs," county Property Appraiser Tim Parker said. "They are forging the deeds from property owners in our county to themselves and are selling some of the property through eBay."
Letters were sent last week to new property owners telling them to immediately contact the property appraiser's office.
"We told them that it is urgent that they contact our office," he said. "We didn't want to use the word fraudulent because we don't know that in every case that is what is going on although it is highly suspected."
Parker said property that has delinquent taxes is being targeted for the fraudulent sales under the theory that owners aren't paying much attention.
"They are small lots in not the best areas so they are getting these people for $1,000 or $2,000," he said.
The property is spread throughout the county.
The false deeds were discovered when Molly Melfi, a county deed employee, discovered a discrepancy in a landowner's signature.
"When she looked at the signature she said, 'I know that signature and that is not his signature,'" Parker said. "When you really think about it, it was an amazing feat for her to catch that."
Melfi's discovery triggered a search for others. Parker said he checked to see if the company involved in the fraudulent sales had been involved in any other sales in Florida, but came up empty.
"But with their methods they could come up with any name," he said.
Research into the company involved in the fraudulent sales by Parker's office discovered that the deeds might be being prepared in two states.
"They are selling property to people in California, their mailing address is Texas and the notary is in Nevada and the property is in Florida," he said. "It is kind of scary how they are doing this."
Putnam resident Craig Sherar said he recently learned one of his properties is involved.
Sherar said the property was posted and sold on Ebay for about $1,000.
"I called EBay about it last week and they could pretty much care less," he said.
Calls by the Daily News to EBay for comment were not returned.
"I think the company's name is New Horizon Land Sales. The lady that's got my property I called her and she has never called me back," Sherar said.
Property owners can protect themselves by simply checking their property tax notices, Parker said.
"Make sure you get a tax bill," he said. "If you don't get a tax bill and you know you own property there is a chance we didn't recognize it as being a fraudulent deed and we have transferred it to an individual."
Parker warned that changing the deed back to the original owner could be a challenge.
"What has happened now is it created a cloud on their title," he said. "Then there has got to be something done to clear up that title and it can be a real headache."
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