Montgomery County is warning residents of an apparent scam attempt promising a reduction of property tax bills in exchange for a $99 payment.
The letters, from the so-called “Maryland Property Review Board,” claim to offer a way for residents to get their property tax assessment reviewed.
Each letter advises recipients that their home’s property tax bill “is approximately $1,346.00 higher than comparable homes due to changes in market conditions and the assessed valuation of your property.”
The letters, which arrived earlier this week in some Bethesda and Potomac mail boxes, then asks for a $99 check to fulfill a filing fee to “reduce your Property Tax Bill.”
There is actually no cost for property owners in Montgomery County to petition for a tax assessment review. The Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation doesn’t send mail advising residents that they can file a petition. The actual petition review form is available on the state’s website.
A copy of the letter provided by the county Friday was sent to a Potomac house. A Bethesda resident reported receiving an identical letter earlier this week.
The county’s Office of Consumer Protection said it has reported the matter to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Anyone who provided credit card information or sent checks to the merchant, which gives a Cockeysville address, may file a complaint with the office.
