Pinellas County Consumer Protection has recently uncovered a real estate telemarketing scam that reportedly defrauded over 100 victims across 37 states. Investigators are currently interrogating three suspects and are currently looking for ways to amend losses for victims. It’s a timely scam considering the hot market Tampa Bay real estate is at the moment.
Pinellas County Consumer Protection (PCCP) has initiated a multi-state investigation into a telemarketing business operating in Pinellas County. Thus far, three people have been charged in a scheme to defraud more than 100 victims.
Related: Teacher Turned Realtor Takes Housing Education to HGTV
Marvin Scott, Chamera Bowman and Tammy Van Wie were charged on April 19 with a scheme to defraud, and Scott was also charged with money laundering. They operated a series of businesses called Nationwide Listings, Elite Property Listings Corp, and Worldwide Property Listings LLC, which are believed to be part of a multi-state scam that promises fraudulent real estate services over the phone.
Pinellas Consumer Protection Investigates
The investigation began in May 2020, when one of the victims reported Elite Property Listings, detailing transactions between themselves and the company for a sale of a property in Hernando County. According to the victim’s affidavit, victims would be contacted on the phone by an agent named Diana, who would solicit a portfolio fee for the sale of a vacant property. The agent would then call, advising the sale had fallen through, but then offer a higher value offer with a request for more portfolio fees.
If the victims went through with the second “sale,” the agent would then call to inform them that she had switched to a different property company who would take over Nationwide Listings’ listings. That company was Elite Property Listings. The same portfolio fees would be requested, with promise of a refund this time if the sale dd not go through. However, victims never received said refunds, and would be berated with calls over the course of several months. Eventually, the victim would receive calls from a third company, Worldwide Property Listings, which would repeat the process.
The initial victim who reported the company finally refused payment after he “realized this was a scam,” and reported Elite Property Listings for fraud. Over the course of roughly two-and-a-half years, the victim made 10 payments totaling more than $27,000. He still has not received a refund for the portfolio fees, and PCCP said the property still has yet to be sold.
After investigation, PCCP was able to identify the three suspects in their connections with the LLCs and through tracking the flow of cash between business and personal bank accounts which led the investigators to their charge of money laundering. Over 100 victims across 37 states were identified, all of whom owned vacant properties claiming to have buyers ready to purchase their land. The total fraud amount associated with these defendants exceeds $1 million.
“Consumers should continue to be cautious whenever they are solicited by telephone from individuals seeking payment for any services,” said Doug Templeton, chief investigator for Pinellas County Consumer Protection. “Also, make sure you only work with licensed real estate professionals when attempting to sell real estate.”
Pinellas County Consumer Protection, with the help of valued partners, continues to protect the interests of consumers and legitimate businesses. If you believe that you have been defrauded or wish to report a scam, call (727) 464-6200 or file a complaint here.
