Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer is warning about a scam impacting property owners throughout the county who are receiving fake government documents that look official and aim to scam them out of money.
The mail offers a fee-based service to have a property owner’s taxable value reduced.
“Current scam mailers are requiring both a $40 county filing fee with the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board for a formal appeal, and a contingent fee of 30 percent of any tax savings as a result of filing the application,” the County Assessor’s Office said. “It is important for property owners to know that the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office does not charge a fee to complete an informal value review for our taxpayers.”
Many property owners throughout the County are receiving the scam letters, officials said. The California Attorney General’s Office has posted warnings to property owners on their website about the practices of these companies.
The California Attorney General’s Office has posted warnings to California property owners about the practices of these companies.
Property owners who believe the current market value of their property is less than the assessed value, can file a free “Request for Value Review (Prop 8)” form with the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office (see here).
