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County Treasurer Warns About Property Tax Relief Scam

October 1, 2026

San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Cohen has issued a warning about fraudulent schemes circulating through social media, videos, and phone calls that falsely claim homeowners can reduce their property taxes by filing a nonexistent IRS "Form 1098-SR. " The scammers are targeting homeowners, especially seniors, by promoting a fake federal program that supposedly freezes or reduces property tax bills, when in reality no such federal form or program exists. Property taxes in California are controlled by state and local agencies, not the federal government, and scammers often use urgent language and official-sounding terminology to trick victims into providing personal information or making payments.

Who is affected

  • San Diego County homeowners
  • Seniors (specifically targeted by scammers)
  • Property owners throughout California
  • Potential victims who may provide personal or financial information to scammers

What action is being taken

  • Treasurer Larry Cohen is warning homeowners about the scam through a press release
  • The Treasurer-Tax Collector Office is reminding property owners that no federal "1098-SR" form exists
  • Scammers are circulating fraudulent claims through social media, online videos, and telephone solicitations

Why it matters

  • This matters because vulnerable homeowners, particularly seniors seeking legitimate ways to reduce their property tax burden, may fall victim to sophisticated scams that use official-sounding language and create false urgency. Victims could lose money by paying fees for nonexistent services and risk identity theft by providing personal and financial information to criminals. The warning is critical because property taxes are a significant expense for homeowners, making them susceptible to promises of relief, and because the scammers' use of government-related terminology makes the fraud appear legitimate.

What's next

  • Property owners who receive suspicious solicitations should not provide personal or financial information or send money until claims are independently verified
  • Anyone who believes they have been scammed should report the incident to law enforcement and consumer protection authorities
  • Property owners should visit official government websites like sdttc.com for verified property tax information

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

County Treasurer Warns About Property Tax Relief Scam