March 16, 2016

A Thurston County judge ordered a California company that scammed new Washington property owners into buying overpriced deeds to pay more than $3.6 million, after granting summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by Attorney General’s office. The court found the Bellflower, Calif.-based LA Investors, LLC, which conducts business as “Local Records Office.” violated the state Consumer Protection Act at least 256,998 times by sending deceptive mailers. The company sent official-looking notices implying that consumers must buy a dramatically overpriced $89 copy of their deeds. Deeds typically cost only a few dollars from a local county office, and many property owners can obtain a copy of their deed for free online. WA

Tagged in: Financial and Investment Fraud,