More tales of Florida swampland being sold on eBay.
Impressive resume for this former corrupt politician turned eBay real estate seller: multiple jail terms in US Federal prison for charges ranging from racketeering, extortion, accepting over 100 bribes, cattle rustlingÂ
mileycow: , and conspiracy charges. He conveniently doesn't mention his resume when he sells on eBay. Many buyers who have relied on the seller's 98.9% feedback rating have discovered the hard way that eBay's feedback system is often an unreliable indicator.
Quote:To out-of-town investors, Jerry Bowmer's eBay land deals sound as enticing as the perfect bronze tan for a pasty winter complexion.
"Some of the best recreational land in Florida and the U.S.A.!" one ad reads. "When this area becomes further developed, this land could be worth a small fortune!"
But the Florida Attorney General's Office is investigating whether the former Hillsborough County commissioner turned felon is making his own small fortune hawking inaccessible swampland...
full article:
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/05/05/State/...ay_l.shtml
The buyers should use Google Maps
Update: Florida is cracking down on eBay Swampland Sellers:
Quote:The state is responding to complaints from disgruntled buyers such as Derogene by forcing some sellers to offer to buy back the property, citing their failure to follow the state law regulating the sale of subdivided land. Violations can include a seller failing to register land with the state for sale.
Derogene's complaint resulted in the sellers agreeing last month to offer refunds to the buyers in 67 transactions, many of whom had complained about their eBay purchases.
Nathan Oliver of Daytona Beach, another owner who has been selling land via the Internet in University Highlands, wouldn't discuss the consent order that he and a partner signed with the state Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes. The pair had to offer refunds in 187 transactions to avoid a $1.87 million fine...
full article:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/technolog...-headlines