News Release - Pennsylvania Man Sued for Attempting Deceptive Property Sales in Florida

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Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release

February 20, 2008

en Español

Print Version

Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Pennsylvania Man Sued for Attempting Deceptive Property Sales in Florida

~ Individual tried to take advantage of Floridians while out on bond for tax evasion charges ~

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Attorney General Bill McCollum today sued a Florida real estate company and its Pennsylvania owner, alleging the company has engaged in deceptive advertising to make Florida property sales. Neither Jim Platts nor his company, A Realty Rx, LLC, have licenses to operate as Florida real estate brokers. Additionally, the company allegedly uses false testimonials and other deceptive practices to advertise Florida real estate.

“We know this individual has a history of fraudulent behavior in other states and we want to make sure Florida consumers are not at risk,” said Attorney General McCollum.

Platts currently operates an active website which lists Florida properties for sale but contains the same testimonials as those listed on the website of Platts’ now defunct Pennsylvania company, Easy Realty Solutions. According to an investigation conducted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Platts has also attempted to negotiate at least one telephone sale from Pennsylvania, where he is currently serving pretrial house arrest pending trial on Federal tax evasion charges. In addition to requesting civil penalties under Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the Attorney General’s Office has also requested an immediate injunction against A Realty Rx to prevent any harm to Florida residents. No Florida victims have been identified at this time.

“This case show that today, more than ever, people need to be cautious in real estate transactions and any time they do business on the internet,” said Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti. “Websites have opened a whole new world of commerce, but the old 'buyer beware' caveat applies double when you make deals on your computer.”

The Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division was alerted to Platts’ deceptive practices by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, which recently filed a similar lawsuit against Platts and his Pennsylvania company. The lawsuit alleges a litany of deceptive practices, including the use of false and misleading advertising, acting as a real estate broker without a license, wrongfully filing notices of pending lawsuits, engaging in the business of secondary mortgage lending without a license, foreclosure rescue through fraudulent short sale negotiations, and other violations of Pennsylvania real estate and residential mortgage loan statutes.

Consumers who believe they may have been victimized by Jim Platts or either of his companies should contact the Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at 1-866-966-7226 or file a complaint online at http://www.myfloridalegal.com.

A copy of the lawsuit is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7BZS5W/$file/ARealtyRxComplaint.pdf