Cross-Border Real Estate Investment Fraud: How to Avoid Being Scammed in Overseas Real Estate Investments?
Case Overview:
Mr. Chen invested $100,000 through an overseas real estate agency to purchase a vacation property abroad. The agency claimed that the property would provide stable rental returns and provided detailed property photos and a false contract. However, after making the payment, Mr. Chen did not receive any rental income, and the agency disappeared.
Legal Response:
Contract Review and Risk Assessment:
Mr. Chen provided the contract and payment receipts to Max International Law Firm. The law firm found several vague and unclear terms in the contract and confirmed that the agency had not provided accurate property information.
Cross-Border Asset Investigation:
Max International Law Firm conducted an international investigation and discovered that the real estate agency was not registered locally, and its funds had been transferred to multiple overseas accounts.
International Arbitration and Litigation:
Max International Law Firm assisted Mr. Chen in initiating an international arbitration process, demanding the real estate agency refund the investment, and pursued legal action to hold the agency accountable.
Key Points in the Case:
1. The law firm assisted Mr. Chen in initiating a cross-border arbitration process to demand a refund of the investment and used litigation procedures to hold the agency legally accountable.
2. Payments should always be made through trusted channels, avoiding transfers to private accounts.
3. If a contract is unclear or contains doubts, consult a lawyer promptly and review the contract to avoid being trapped by non-compliant clauses.
