Property scam gravels Lake County

There is a new property scam in the region of Lake County. It has been learnt that a large number of people around the area have received a letter in the mailbox from a company going by the name “Property Tax Reassessment.”

The letter states that their properties are being over assessed and this has created a furor already. Lake County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of California, north of the San Francisco Bay Area. It takes its name from Clear Lake, the dominant geographic feature in the county and the largest natural lake wholly within California (unlike Lake Tahoe which is partially in Nevada).

What is the reaction of concerned officials in the region? Well, they have termed this as nothing but a scam and have suggested people to either throw it in the trashbin or steer clear of it. Speaking on this Jim Campbell, Lake County’s chief deputy assessor, told, “We just got our first indication of that thing this afternoon when the phone started ringing.” “It’s just strictly a scam.”

When did the problem start? It started only recently and targeted Southern California first and the northern region after that. Even the local press seems to be against the facts and figures of the letter and is warning communities to ignore the letters. The county assessor in San Luis Obispo County is infuriated and is planning to forward the letters to the county counsel and district attorney.

Let’s concentrate on the letter therefore. A letter that the Lake County News obtained contains the following words, “Upon receipt of your service fee, Property Tax Reassessment will thoroughly review your individual property value. If, after our review, it is determined you do not qualify for a reduction, your service fee will be immediately refunded.”

The content is same in all letters and there is also a phone number, 888-879-4259, which is fraudulent.

If you have received a letter already, it’s better if you can consult with the assessor’s office at 263-2302.