Internet deals mire unwitting buyers in inaccessible Green Swam...

The eBay ad was hard to resist: an acre of pristine forestland in sunny Central Florida.

[sunnydaze]

No wonder why so many Yankees move to Florida - you had Montezuma's Revenge, now you have I'm gonna get even with these Swindlers!
Sand aint land..Moses said that!

[iditios]

how stupid is stupid
let's make a LAW nothing can be bough over the internet

[E Vey]

Before you are too harsh on these people:

For years and years the State allowed swindles like this and it was perfectly legal. Then laws were passed, but it wasn't until the '80's that General Development Corporation finally was shut down for fraud.

In this case, the county allowed the subdivision of the land. That could have been prevented and with it, this fraud.

[Mark]

E Vey wrote:

Before you are too harsh on these people:
For years and years the State allowed swindles like this and it was perfectly legal. Then laws were passed, but it wasn't until the '80's that General Development Corporation finally was shut down for fraud.
In this case, the county allowed the subdivision of the land. That could have been prevented and with it, this fraud.

But then the state leaders wouldn't have gotten their bribe money, and the counties wouldn't be sucking up the tax $$$. Even if it's a small amount each year from each piece of property it adds up.

[Katrina Effect]

What a tool. Let me go buy a parcel of land in Alaska and then go and do my research.

[Mike T]

I love these "the world we live in" stories!

[The Original Sam]

...and if you believe that, I have some swamp land in Florida for sale..

[ocopek]

It is the county that allowed these areas to be split up and deeded as small plots in the first place. The county should have been responsible and ensured there was right of way to properties. Only the county can fix this problem by ensuring no further deeds can be transferred and recorded unless there are proper right-of-ways. It is easier to blame the citizens who are required to pay taxes, required to pay deed recording fees, required to comply with the law on these parcels; but receive zero services in exchange.

[okw]

E Vey wrote:

Before you are too harsh on these people:
For years and years the State allowed swindles like this and it was perfectly legal. Then laws were passed, but it wasn't until the '80's that General Development Corporation finally was shut down for fraud.
In this case, the county allowed the subdivision of the land. That could have been prevented and with it, this fraud.

The buyers have more dollars than sense - buy something on Ebay and not do any homework first? They should leave the courthouse crying - over their own stupidity.

[E Vey]

"buy something on Ebay and not do any homework first?"

C'mon now. How can they do "homework" unless they actually came down here and looked first. Is that how you buy things on ebay? You drive to California and visit the seller to look before you buy?

The Lake County tax appraiser could make it easier, by putting in map based property searches the way it is done in Orange County, but hey, why bother making things easy for the citizens?

[no-pity-4-trash]

"God's Land Stewards" indeed! I'll bet the owmers of this company all have "the fish" on thier business cards and faithfully attend church every week--they will burn in hell as far as I'm concerned...

[Give Him an Apple]

If it looks to good to be true ......
You get what you pay for ......
If you believe that .......

ALL COME TO MIND

[CRIME CENTRAL]

ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE

[sanford]

they could always pitch a tent and camp out!

[poor taxpayer]

no-pity-4-trash wrote:

"God's Land Stewards" indeed! I'll bet the owmers of this company all have "the fish" on thier business cards and faithfully attend church every week--they will burn in hell as far as I'm concerned...

I steer clear of any business that puts a fish in its ads. That's a dead giveaway that they are crooks.

[You_cannot_fix_ stupid]

Ever heard of Google Earth? You can sit at any computer connected to the Internet from anywhere in the world and see a picture of Green Swamp.
In other words, if they could buy on eBay they could have easily seen the property and surrounding area from the same computer.
Ignorance can be cured. Stupidity is terminal.

[hurt]

okw wrote:

<quoted text>
The buyers have more dollars than sense - buy something on Ebay and not do any homework first? They should leave the courthouse crying - over their own stupidity.

Joe Matarazzo, Windermere Custom Homes, use to work for this company in Maryland that swindled senior citizens out of their life savings to buy worthless property in FL. He and his sister even convinced their own mother and father to purchase this swamp land??

[hurt]

okw wrote:

<quoted text>
The buyers have more dollars than sense - buy something on Ebay and not do any homework first? They should leave the courthouse crying - over their own stupidity.

Joe Matarazzo, Windermere Custom Homes, use to work for this company in Maryland that swindled senior citizens out of their life savings to buy worthless property in FL. He and his sister even convinced their own mother and father to purchase this swamp land??

[ecc0977]

Ummmmmm...hasn't this scam been going on for a couple hundred years?

Who would buy land on freakin ebay that they've never laid eyes on??

[hurt]

E Vey wrote:

Before you are too harsh on these people:
For years and years the State allowed swindles like this and it was perfectly legal. Then laws were passed, but it wasn't until the '80's that General Development Corporation finally was shut down for fraud.
In this case, the county allowed the subdivision of the land. That could have been prevented and with it, this fraud.

Joe Matarazzo, Windermere Custom Homes, use to work for this company in Maryland that swindled senior citizens out of their life savings to buy worthless property in FL. He and his sister even convinced their own mother and father to purchase this swamp land??