Feb 12, 2009 9:32 am US/Pacific
LOS ANGELES
Homeowners Should Beware Of Property Tax Scams
"This blatant and costly scam holds out hope to homeowners that their property taxes will be reduced if they pay hundreds of dollars to a middleman to have their property re-evaluated," Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. said in a statement.
The companies, which pretend to be government agencies, have sent mailers to homeowners offering property tax assessment reduction in return for hundreds of dollars in fees.
Property tax reassessment, is in fact, offered for free by county tax assessors.
If homeowners believe they are paying too much in property taxes due to the decline in value of their home, they should call their local tax assessor for a free reassessment, Brown said.
Homeowners who suspect they have been taken in by fraud artists should contact the Attorney General's Office by calling (800) 952-5225, or by writing to P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA 94244.
Note: The reassessment process involves finding "comparable sales" that establish your home's current value. I can provide these to you at no charge. Just contact me. Elise Timpe