Different Types of Fraud in Costa Rica

Fraud in Costa Rica, believe it or not, seems to be endless. Fraud, whether it be real estate, marriage, investment, or squatters can cost you everything you have. The toll financially and emotionally from enduring such fraud goes without comment. I emphasize to my clients that always trust their instincts. If “it sounds too good to be true”, then it is! The different types of Fraud in Costa Rica are numerous.

Most of my clients contact me after sensing something just isn’t right. Many dismiss this feeling and delay action that could help them before it is too late. As a potential victim of a fraud, you owe it to yourself to have your matter investigated by a professional fraud investigator.

The local print and electronic news services in Costa Rica report fraud on a daily basis. The OIJ, an understaffed, underfunded police branch, struggles to handle reported fraud casesgency.  Non-Costa Rican cases receive low priority and often go uninvestigated by understaffed OIJ

The most common types of fraud in Costa Rica

Real estate fraud:

Many people lost their life’s savings in this type of fraud. Developers often show elaborate architectural drawings of planned developments and use the guise of a discount for the first to invest. This can be a trap for unsuspecting buyers.

Costa Rica has a lengthy and cumbersome process to approve any plans for development. Not only does the Central Costa Rica government need to approve, but permission must also be obtained from the local municipality. This process can take years in some cases. Some buyers were shown approvals for the development, but what they didn’t know was that it was only an approval for a “model” and nothing else. Many buyers soon learned that the promised 7th-floor condo overlooking the ocean would never be realized

Investment Fraud:

Marriage Scam: This being a third world country and the lure of finding a beautiful Latin wife has also been the source of scams. There are several dating services here that are nothing more f than a conduit for women here to scam money from American men. Many of these women also use the services to get a “green card” and once they have it, many men find themselves in the unenviable position of being married to the “bitch from hell”. They take them to the United States and without warning find themselves embroiled in an ugly domestic situation which in most cases lands them in jail.

How to avoid falling victim to a fraud in Costa Rica

1. Remember you are not in Kansas anymore! That’s right you are in a third world country that operates under a different system of laws and culture. You have heard in the past that “possession is nine tenths of the law”, in Costa Rica possession is 100% of the law. This covers everything and everybody.
2. Prior to making a decision on anything in Costa Rica, take the time to do some research. This includes the hiring of a professional private investigator to check the people you are dealing with. This includes ALL WOMEN. One of the biggest scams here are the dating services which are nothing more than conduits for the women here to bilked you out of money.
3. Though your private investigator, obtain the name and contact information of a reliable and trustworthy, English speaking Costa Rica Attorney. Our firms’ attorney is versed in Real Estate, Banking, Residency, marriage and a plethora of other subjects that bear your attention.
4.  Most of all be highly suspicious of the information you received from other expats living here. You will soon learn that many are fugitives from justice and are part of the fraud system here.  Some of the largest frauds with real estate, investments and other scams originate with expats, particularily from South Florida.

For more information on how we can help you identify and avoid frauds in Costa Rica, call us at 321-218-9209 or contact us before it’s too late.

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