Clearwater land broker accused in $70K fraud

CLEARWATER -- Two Clearwater real estate companies allegedly bilked more than $70,000 from customers in a fraud case, according to the state attorney general.

Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a complaint against Property Solutions International Corp. and Premier 1 Property Inc., as well as the executive for the firms, Marvin Scott, according to a release. The companies, Bondi says, promised customers to sell property for many times the value of the land, charging upfront brokerage fees that averaged $2,250.

Customers were allegedly told the fee would be used for attorneys, closing costs, transfer and title, brokers, deed and other land transactional fees. The companies also conducted business under the names Coast to Coast Land and FSBO Property Solutions.

If the sale didn't happen as promised, the companies would offer to refund the brokerage fee -- but rarely followed through on that offer, Bondi says.

The companies allegedly used unlicensed telemarketers to contact potential sellers. One complaint came from a senior citizen who claimed that for a $1,300 fee, Property Solutions and Premier 1 Property could sell his $4,000 land for $30,000, according to a release.

The Better Business Bureau rated FSBO Property and another of Scott's companies an F, based on unresolved complaints and the company's failure to show the independent watchdog it possessed a real estate license to represent a buyer in a land deal.