A couple got the shock of their lives after discovering their $1 million retirement plan in Massachusetts had been stolen and sold by scammers right under their noses.
Dr. Omar Jaraki and his wife Halla bought 1.84 hectares of vacant land worth $1 million in Concord in 1991, where they planned to build a family home for retirement.
But when the couple called the town hall in August to request their annual tax bill, they were told the future pension plan had been sold for about half its value.
The shocked couple realized they had fallen victim to a terrible scam where fraudsters successfully pretended to be them to trick an unsuspecting buyer into buying it.
‘They stole our dream. They stole our property. They took out a mortgage on it. They’re building a house on it,” the cardiologist said CBS.
Dr. Omar Jaraki and his wife Halla had purchased 1.84 hectares of vacant land worth $1 million in Concord in 1991 – where they planned to build a family home
According to fraud court case A scammer, filed by the couple, used a fake driver’s license, passport and fake email address of Halla to trick a local real estate agent and two other experienced real estate lawyers into letting them steal the land in 2023.
The empty lot was reportedly advertised as ‘an amazing opportunity to build your dream home in the ultra-exclusive, sought-after and prestigious Mattison Farm neighborhood. One of the only remaining plots and located on a plot of 1.84 hectares. Proximity to Concord & Nashawtuc Country Club’.
An unsuspecting buyer has done just that, building a nearly completed home on the lot he will almost certainly lose.
The scammers priced the lot at $699,900.00, well below its value.
An unwitting buyer made an offer for $525,000.00, which was built – and construction began shortly thereafter.
“They ‘sold’ the property to a Max Geesey and walked away with nearly $500,000.00 in stolen sale proceeds,” the documents said.
But when the couple called city hall in August to get their annual tax bill, they were told the future pension plan had been sold for about half its value.
The arid land was reportedly advertised as ‘an amazing opportunity to build your dream home in the ultra-exclusive, sought-after and prestigious Mattison Farm neighborhood. One of the only remaining plots and located on a plot of 1.84 hectares. Proximity to Concord & Nashawtuc Country Club’
Although the property had cost $699,900.00, it was purchased for a surprising $525,000.00 and a green painted house was soon built.
Richard Vetstein, the couple’s lawyer noted: ‘The moment I saw this deed, I knew it was a forgery. You can tell just by looking at it. Only the handwriting doesn’t look right. There were so many other red flags.
‘Quick half a million for a fake driver’s license and passport and sending a few emails. That’s a day’s work.’
Officials also noted that Halla’s fake South Carolina driver’s license “looked nothing like a real driver’s license” and strangely, her fake U.S. passport had the same photo as the driver’s license.
‘That is not possible because license plate photos are taken at the Motor Vehicle Department. The woman on the fake IDs looks nothing like Halla Jaraki.
‘This is a disaster. It is not only for us, but for other people as if it will happen to them,” the lawyer exclaimed.
“They ‘sold’ the property to a Max Geesey and walked away with nearly $500,000.00 in stolen sale proceeds,” the documents said.
Officials also noted that Halla’s fake South Carolina driver’s license “looked nothing like a real one” and strangely, her fake U.S. passport had the same photo as the driver’s license.
While the veteran attorney expects the Jarakis, who were married in Boston, to get their land back, questions remain about what will happen to the house that will be built.
The law is on Jarakis’ side and they will almost certainly get their plot back.
It’s unclear what will happen to the unfortunate people who paid the scammers thinking they were buying it.
A settlement could also be reached that would allow the new buyers – who have not yet been identified – to stay there, if they can afford the additional costs.
‘They will definitely get their property back. I guess the only question is: what do we do with the house? There are two ways to go. They can return the property to the owners or a financial settlement can be made,” Vetstein said.
According to the lawsuit, filed against the “new” owner and the attorneys involved in the scam, the couple is seeking damages, attorneys’ fees and costs against each of the defendants.
The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the fraudulent sale.