Shasta County Real Estate Fraud Cases Discussed
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REAL ESTATE PRACTICE, SHASTA COUNTY, TIPS FOR SELLERS, TIPS FOR SENIORS
October 22nd, 2009
Robert Angulo is the investigator recently assigned by the DA’s office to handle real estate related crimes.
Robert spoke to a group at the Shasta Association of Realtors weekly meeting Wednesday. The real estate fraud unit has been up and running for just a few months and is already handling 31 cases. Here is a summary of cases being investigated or prosecuted:
- Property management company being operated by individual that does not have a real estate license or a trust account to handle tenant deposits and rent. This case goes to trial in November.
- Another property manager that committed grand theft, embezzlement and grand theft from an elderly person. Amount lost was reported at $40,000.
- Person creating false deeds. This person first created a deed to get the property out of his name and into the name of his girlfriend because he was incarcerated and didn’t want his neighbor, with whom he had disputes, to take his property. He later created another deed to put his name back on the property. He used false identification to get the documents notarized. This is a felony.
- Florida loan modification firm took $2,700 from a county property owner for loan modification services but did nothing. Robert found out the Florida Attorney General was already involved in prosecuting this firm so no action will be taken locally.
- Craigslist-Nigerian scam artists are using properties advertised for sale on Craigslist to create rental ads. Potential tenants are baited with really nice homes for cheap rent if they would just wire the funds to the scammer. Of course the home is not for rent and the money will be lost once sent. If it’s too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.
Robert also did a cross-check of all the property management companies in the phone book and found 8 that were being operated without a real estate licensee. In fact, most of the real estate fraud investigated thus far involved unlicensed individuals.
He also encouraged those in attendance to contact his office if anyone hears of someone being victimized by fraudsters or sees an ad for loan modification services that require an upfront fee or if our clients have strangers knocking on their door asking about the home for rent or asking them to leave because the bank has foreclosed. These are all scams that are happening here and elsewhere across the state and country.
Robert can be reached at 530-245-6350 or rangulo@co.shasta.ca.us.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS GMAC
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
