John and Mary Miller (not their real names) almost lost $136,000 dollars trying to buy the perfect piece of property. They want to tell their story so no one else falls into this trap but asked us not to use their real names. So far this year, at least 30 people in Central Oregon have almost lost a fortune to people posing as sellers.
A great deal
kAm%96 |:==6CD 925 366? =@@<:?8 7@C AC@A6CEJ E@ 3F:=5 @? 2?5 7@F?5 E96 A6C764E rC@@<65 #:G6C #2?49 =@E 4@>6 @? E96 >2C<6E] xE 925 2 G:6H[ A@H6C[ 2?5 H2E6C 2?5 H2D AC:465 36=@H >2C<6E]k^Am
kAm“(@HP %9:D :D 2 8@@5 562=P” D2:5 |2CJ] %96J H2?E65 E@ 24E BF:4<=J]k^Am
kAm%96J AFE :? 2 7F==\AC:46[ 42D9 @776C H:E9 2 BF:4< 4=@D6]k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ 24C@DD E96 DEC66E[ %C24J wFAA ?@E:465 2? F?FDF2= ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 DE@AA:?8 E@ =@@< 2E E96 AC@A6CEJ 2?5 E2<6 A9@E@D] w6 4@F?E65 23@FE 6:89E @C ?:?6 AC@DA64E@CD] ~?6 4@FA=6 24EF2==J 5C@G6 FA 7C@> #655:?8[ r2=:7@C?:2[ E@ =@@< 2E E96 AC@A6CEJk^Am
kAm(96? E96 |:==6CD E@=5 wFAA E96J H6C6 3FJ:?8 E96 AC@A6CEJ 2?5 H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 9:D ?6H ?6:893@CD[ wFAA E9@F89E E92E H2D @55] w6 <?6H E96 @H?6CD A6CD@?2==J 2?5 E96J 925 366? 252>2?E :? E96 A2DE 23@FE ?@E D6==:?8 E96 AC@A6CEJ]k^Am
kAm%96 H@>2? H9@ =:G6D ?6IE 5@@C 42>6 @FE E@ E2=< E@ E96 |:==6CD] $96 H2D 2=D@ DFCAC:D65 H96? E96J E@=5 96C 23@FE E96 AC@A6CEJ D2=6] $96 925 HC:EE6? E96 @H?6CD C68F=2C=J E6==:?8 @7 96C :?E6C6DE E@ 3FJ E96 AC@A6CEJ :7 E96J D9@F=5 6G6C H2?E E@ D6==]k^Am
kAm
&?52F?E65[ E96 |:==6CD >@G65 29625 H:E9 E96 AC@A6CEJ AFC492D6] %96J H:C65 E96 7F== AFC492D6 2>@F?E E@ E96 E:E=6 4@>A2?J] %96 D6==6C 6G6? C6BF6DE65 32?< DE2E6>6?ED E@ 56>@?DEC2E6 E96J 925 E96 7F== 2>@F?E[ D@>6E9:?8 E96J ?@H C68C6E]k^Am
kAm%96 3FJ6CD 5:5?’E E9:?< EH:46 H96? E96 D6==6C ?66565 E@ 56=2J 4=@D:?8 7C@> uC:52J E@ %F6D52J] %96 |:==6CD 6G6? 925 E96 A@H6C 2?5 E96 H2E6C AFE :? E96:C ?2>6 D@ E96J 4@F=5 DE2CE H@C<:?8 @? E96 AC@A6CEJ 2D D@@? 2D E96 562= 4=@D65]k^Am
k9bm$FDA:4:@FD D:8?Dk^9bm
kAm%96? E9:?8D DE2CE65 E2<:?8 @? 2 5:776C6?E 4@=@C] %96 |:==6CD’ 286?E[ |@==J r92C=6J H:E9 rC@@<65 #:G6C #62=EJ[ C6D62C4965 E96 @H?6C] w6 H2D 3@C? 2?5 C2:D65 :? ~C68@? 2?5 H2D :? 9:D g_D] %96 AFCA@CE65 @H?6C DA@<6 :? 3C@<6? t?8=:D9[ F?FDF2= 7@C D@>6@?6 3@C? 2?5 C2:D65 :? ~C68@?] “%92E’D H96? x <?6H E9:D H2D 2 D42>[” D2:5 r92C=6J[ H9@ 925 ;FDE 52JD 62C=:6C D66? 2 H2C?:?8 23@FE E96D6 DH:?5=6D] “x 42?’E E6== J@F 9@H >2?J C6>@E6 EC2?D24E:@?D x’G6 5@?6] %9:D :D 2 CFC2= 2C62[” D2:5 r92C=6J]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 EC2?D24E:@? H96C6 x’G6 ?6G6C >6E E96 A6@A=6 @C D66? E96 D6==6C]”r92C=6J D2JD 286?ED 56A6?5 @? E96 E:E=6 4@>A2?:6D]k^Am
kAm%96 E:E=6 4@>A2?J[ %:4@C %:E=6[ D2G65 E96 52J :? E9:D 42D6] $6==6CD >FDE D:8? E96 E:E=6 @G6C :? A6CD@? :? 7C@?E @7 2? 2AAC@G65 ?@E2CJ E@ 4@?7:C> E96:C :56?E:EJ] %9:D D6==6C :?D:DE65 96 925 2=C625J ?@E2C:K65 E96 E:E=6]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F’C6 C6BF6DE:?8 E@ FD6 J@FC @H? ?@E2CJ[ E92E’D 3:K2CC6[” D2:5 r92C=6J] “(9@ H@F=5 2D< E@ FD6 J@FC @H? ?@E2CJ F?=6DD E96J H6C6 ECJ:?8 E@ D=:A D@>6E9:?8 3Jn”k^Am
kAm(96? %:4@C DEF4< E@ :ED A@=:4J[ E96 D6==6C 2?5 E96 562= 6G2A@C2E65]k^Am
kAmr92C=6J 4@?E24E65 E96 24EF2= @H?6CD :? E9:D 42D6 H9@ 4@?7:C>65 E96J 925 ?@E AFE E96 AC@A6CEJ FA 7@C D2=6 2?5 H6C6 ?@E :?E6C6DE65 :? D6==:?8 E96 AC@A6CEJ]k^Am
kAm“%96 E:E=6 4@>A2?J 2?5 E96 C62= 6DE2E6 286?E 2C6 E96 9F86 96C@6D :? E9:D DE@CJ[” D2:5 |2CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 |:==6CD 766= 7@CEF?2E6] %96J 8@E 2== E96:C >@?6J 324<]k^Am
k9bm$42> @? E96 C:D6 :? r6?EC2= ~C68@?k^9bm
kAmr6?EC2= ~C68@? pDD@4:2E:@? @7 #62=E@CD !C6D:56?E qC6?E {2?56=D D2JD @7 E96 b_ r6?EC2= ~C68@? 3FJ6CD 9:E 3J E9:D D42> D@ 72C E9:D J62C 96’D ?@E 2H2C6 @7 2?J@?6 H9@’D =@DE >@?6J[ 3FE E96 @C82?:K2E:@? EC24<D @?=J 4FDE@>6CD H9@ FD6 C62= 6DE2E6 286?ED]k^Am
kAm“xE’D E96 >@DE F?7@CEF?2E6 C62D@? A6@A=6 D9@F=5 H@C< H:E9 2 C62=E@C[” D2:5 {2?56=D[ :>A=J:?8 E96C6 2C6 A=6?EJ @7 @E96C C62D@?D E@ H@C< E9C@F89 2? 286?E]k^Am
kAm%9:D A2CE:4F=2C D42> :D @? E96 C:D6 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 2?5 :? E96 DE2E6[ 3FE ?6H=J E2<:?8 9@=5 :? r6?EC2= ~C68@?[ {2?56=D D2JD]k^Am
kAmx? E9:D A2CE:4F=2C 42D6 E96 A6CD@? A@D:?8 2D E96 D6==6C H6?E E9C@F89 2? 286?E H9@ =:DE65 E96 AC@A6CEJ H:E9 E96 |F=E:A=6 {:DE:?8D $6CG:46] r~p# 2?5 E96 ~C68@? #62=E@CD pDD@4:2E:@? 92D ?@E:7:65 286?ED 2?5 E:E=6 4@>A2?:6D H9@ 92G6 AFE D2768F2C5D :? A=246 E@ AC@E64E 3FJ6CD]k^Am
kAms:D9@?6DE A6@A=6 42? =:DE 9@>6D H:E9 @E96C =:DE:?8 D6CG:46D =:<6 +:==@H 2D 7@C D2=6 3J @H?6C] {2?56=D D2JD 96 H@F=5?’E <?@H :7 A6@A=6 =@DE >@?6J E@ 72<6 D6==6CD :? E9@D6 EC2?D24E:@?D]k^Am
kAmrC:>:?2=D A=2J E9:D 82>6 H:E9 C6?E6CD E@@] r92C=6J 92D D66? E9:D 92AA6? EH:46 C646?E=J[ @?6 =:DE:?8 @? u2463@@< |2C<6EA=246 2?@E96C @? rC2:8’D {:DE]k^Am
kAm“%96J G6C32E:> 4FE 2?5 A2DE65 2 =:DE:?8 @? 2 AC@A6CEJ x H2D D6==:?8 3FE :?4=F565 E96:C 4@?E24E :?7@C>2E:@?[” D2:5 r92C=6J] %96 567C2F56CD EC:65 E@ 4@==64E 56A@D:ED 7C@> F?DFDA64E:?8 C6?E6CD]k^Am
k9bm(92E E@ H2E49 7@Ck^9bm
kAm{2?56=D D2JD 36H2C6 @7 AC6DDFC6 7@C 2 BF:4< D2=6] “x’G6 366? 5@:?8 E9:D D:?46 `hgh[” 96 D2:5[ “xE’D C2C6 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 36 >@C6 4@?46C?65 23@FE E:>6 7C2>6 E92? >2I:>:K:?8 AC@7:E @? E96:C D2=6]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2JD 2 4@=5 42== 7C@> 2 D6==6C D6?5D 2? 2=2C> E@ C62=E@CD] &DF2==J[ D6==6CD 92G6 2 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 286?E @C 24E @? 2 C676CC2=]k^Am
kAm|2?J C62= 6DE2E6 286?ED DF3D4C:36 E@ 2? 2AA 42==65 u@C6H2C? E92E 2==@HD E96> E@ :?G6DE:82E6 2 A6CD@?] &D:?8 E96 E6=6A9@?6 ?F>36C[ 2? 286?E 42? =62C? E96 42==6C’D 24EF2= ?2>6 E@ D66 :7 :E DJ?4D H:E9 E96 ?2>6 @7 E96 @H?6C]k^Am
kAm{2?56=D 25G:D6D 3FJ6CD E@ 2D< BF6DE:@?D @?=J A6@A=6 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 AC@A6CEJ H@F=5 <?@H E96 2?DH6CD E@] (92E >@F?E2:? 5@6D E96 AC@A6CEJ 92G6 2 G:6H @7n r2? J@F D66 E96 H2E6C E@H6C 7C@> E96 AC@A6CEJn pD< H9J E96 D6==6C 3@F89E E96 AC@A6CEJ :? E96 7:CDE A=246 2?5 H9J E96J’C6 D6==:?8 ?@H] (9@ 5@ J@F 32?< H:E9nk^Am
kAmr964< E96 E2I C64@C5D 7@C E96 255C6DD @7 E96 @H?6C[ E96? 2D< E96 D6==6C H96C6 E96J =:G6] “x7 E96J’C6 ?@E H:==:?8 E@ E6== J@F H96C6 E96J =:G6[ J@F’G6 8@E 2 D42>>6C[” D2:5 {2?56=D] %JA:42==J[ {2?56=D D2JD[ E9:D :D 2 4J36C4C:>6[ E96 A6CD@? A@D:?8 2D E96 D6==6C 4@F=5 36 2?JH96C6 :? E96 H@C=5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 286?ED 5@ C6A@CE E96D6 42D6D E@ A@=:46[ 96 5@6D?’E <?@H @7 2?J@?6 H9@’D 366? 42F89E]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 92C5 E@ 6DE23=:D9 ;FC:D5:4E:@?[” 96 D2JD[ “2?5 J@F ?665 2 4@A E92E’D 8@@5 2E 4J36C4C:>6]”k^Am
kAm(96? :E 4@>6D E@ C6?E6CD[ r92C=6J D2JD 5@?’E 36 DH2J65 3J 2 D66>:?8=J =@H C6?E] “%96J =:DE E96> =@H E@ 86E 2 BF:4< C6DA@?D6]”k^Am
kAmr92C=6J D2JD E@ 24E =:<6 J@FC @H? E:E=6 4@>A2?J E@ G6C:7J E96 :56?E:EJ @7 E96 @H?6C] |66E E96> :? A6CD@?] s@?’E AFE 5@H? 2 56A@D:E H:E9@FE 8@:?8 :?D:56] (2E49 E96 A6CD@? FD6 2 <6J E@ @A6? E96 5@@C] pD< 7@C :56?E:7:42E:@?]k^Am
kAmx? E9:D 9@E C6?E2= >2C<6E[ r92C=6J C62=:K6D C6?E6CD 5@?’E H2?E E@ 2AA62C 5:77:4F=E] “x E9:?< H6’G6 6?E6C65 2 C62=> H96C6 :E’D 36EE6C E@ 36 D276 2?5 2A@=@8:K6 =2E6C E92? E@ 86E :?E@ 2 D:EF2E:@? E92E 42?’E 36 C6>65:65]”k^Am
k9bmr=@D6 42==k^9bm
kAm%@52J E96 |:==6CD 2C6 C6=:6G65 E96J 5:5?’E =@D6 2?J >@?6J[ 3FE 2 C2D9 @7 DA2> A9@?6 42==D ?@H A=28F6D y@9?[ H9:49 >2<6D 9:> H2CJ] t:E96C H2J[ E96J’G6 7@F?5 ?6H 7C:6?5D] %96 wFAAD[ H9@ H:E?6DD65 E96 =:?6 @7 H@F=5\36 3FJ6CD 7C@> 24C@DD E96 DEC66E[ @776C65 E@ F?4@C< D@>6 492>A28?6 E@ 4@?D@=6 E96 |:==6CD :7 E96J =@DE >@?6J[ @C E@ 46=63C2E6 :7 E96J 5:5 ?@E]k^Am
kAm%96 4@FA=6D 92G6 AFE E96 46=63C2E:@? @? E96:C D4965F=6]k^Am