Scammers like to take advantage of people who own their homes. Unfortunately, this valuable asset increases the potential dollar value of specific scams.

Scammers send personalized letters to different properties, apparently on behalf of the County Assessor’s Office.

The letter, made to look official but displaying only public information, identifies the property’s assessed value and offers the homeowner a fee to arrange for a reassessment of the property’s value and, therefore, the tax burden associated with it.

The fee must be paid in advance, and after payment is made, the victim never hears from the “Assessor’s Office” again.

What you can do to avoid becoming a victim:

• Don’t pay money for something you did not ask for.
• Contact your County Assessor’s Office directly, don’t pay for a middleman.

DuTrac provides the latest fraud protection tools and services, from text alerts to chip-enhanced technology.

If you feel you may have been the victim of fraud, don’t hesitate to contact our Fraud Specialist at fraud@dutrac.org or visit any DuTrac location.