Assessment scam victims can demand refunds
District Attorney Gary Lieberstein and Assessor John Tuteur are urging property owners who were victims of a property tax reassessment scam to demand a refund.
Property owners who sent money to Property Tax Reassessment are now receiving Authorization Forms from the company. Instead of signing the form, Tuteur and Lieberstein are asking property owners to send a refund demand letter to the firm.
“The California Attorney General and District Attorneys in several counties have filed civil and criminal actions against this company,” said Tuteur and Lieberstein in a statement. “We are working to get restitution for anyone who sent the firm money or who had to pay a stop payment fee to their local bank.”
The refund demand letter should say:
“To whom it may concern: I am in receipt of your property tax reassessment authorization form. I understand that your firm is the subject of a lawsuit by the Attorney General of the State of California. I am hereby requesting an immediate refund of the ($___.00) that I sent you or reimbursement of the ($___.00) stop payment charge that I paid to my bank for stopping payment on my check to you. Please send my refund and/or reimbursement immediately to: (Name, address)”
In addition to sending the refund demand letter, Tuteur and Lieberstein are asking that victims send a photocopy of their refund demand letter, a copy of both sides of their cancelled check or of the bank statement showing the stop payment charge, plus any of the solicitation material they still have to: Deputy District Attorney Daryl Roberts, Consumer Fraud Division — Napa County District Attorney, 931 Parkway Mall, Napa, CA 94559-2647.
For more information contact Tuteur at 253-4459 or jtuteur@co.napa.ca.us.