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CASSOPOLIS — Cass County Treasurer Hope Anderson and Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz are warning property owners about deceptive and illegal schemes targeting individuals facing property tax delinquency or foreclosure proceedings.

“These scammers specifically target our most vulnerable residents during times of financial hardship,” said Cass County Treasurer Hope Anderson. “We want the public to know that legitimate assistance is available through proper channels.”

Homeowners should be aware that scammers are increasingly targeting vulnerable property owners with false promises of assistance, only to strip them of equity, ownership rights, or additional funds.  And as tax deadlines approach, various schemes often arise intended to take advantage of individuals feeling the financial stress of these time-sensitive dates. 

The elderly are particularly at risk. 

These schemes are often designed to make a profit off persons facing the tension of property tax or foreclosure deadlines. 

Contacts to promote such financial schemes include:

• Personal mailings
• Emails
• Text messages
• Phone calls
• In-person contacts

These contacts often ask the tax/foreclosure stressed individual to “call them” to get “help”.  

Common Scams to Watch For:

Fraudulent “tax specialists” offering to negotiate with tax authorities for excessive upfront fees

• Property investors offering to “help” by purchasing property at a price far below market value
• Fake government representatives demanding immediate payment via unusual methods
• Deed theft schemes where scammers trick homeowners into signing over their property
• Phony loan modification services requiring upfront payments for assistance never provided

Such purported “help or assistance” can sometimes result in the property owner relinquishing all rights to the property—even when the property owner has significant equity in the property—- rather than working with the Treasurer to try and keep your property and minimize any negative outcome.

Some of these third-party contacts are criminal in nature.

If Cass County readers are contacted by someone other than the Cass County Treasurer’s Office offering to “help” you with a delinquent property tax issue or a property foreclosure, contact your Cass County Treasurer’s Office immediately. 

Readers can contact the County Treasurer’s Office at (269) 445-4468.