A Maine landlord has been charged with defrauding the state’s Property Tax Fairness Credit (PTFC) program through an elaborate scheme involving falsified renter information, inflated housing costs, and fabricated household details. According to the Maine Revenue Services Criminal Investigations Unit and the Office of the Maine Attorney General, the defendant exploited gaps in verification processes to secure thousands of dollars in improper tax rebates over multiple filing years.
Investigators allege that the landlord submitted dozens of fraudulent rebate claims on behalf of tenants without their knowledge—sometimes years after those tenants had moved out. In other cases, the individuals listed on PTFC filings were entirely fictitious, with fabricated Social Security numbers and altered dates of birth used to create the appearance of legitimate renters. Officials also say the defendant routinely inflated rent amounts and property-related expenses to maximize rebate eligibility and increase the size of the refunds.
The scheme first drew attention when Maine Revenue Services (MRS) analysts noticed a pattern of unusually high rebate submissions originating from the same group of rental properties. Multiple applications referenced identical rent amounts, repeated bank routing details, and handwriting similarities across forms purportedly completed by different tenants. Further review revealed inconsistencies between the addresses listed on rebate filings and official occupancy records.
A deeper cross-agency analysis confirmed the issue. Postal change-of-address data, voter registration information, and utility account records all showed long gaps in occupant activity, contradicting the active tenant claims submitted by the landlord. Several individuals listed as renters had not lived at the properties for years, while others were verified as out of state during the time periods in question. One “tenant” did not exist at all—investigators discovered that the identity belonged to a deceased individual whose information had been altered and reused.
“Programs designed to help Maine families are not an opportunity for personal enrichment,” said Attorney General Aaron Frey. “This case highlights the importance of rigorous documentation and the role of identity validation in protecting taxpayer-funded benefits.”
Authorities executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and business office, uncovering handwritten ledgers tracking falsified claims, blank tax forms pre-filled with forged signatures, and correspondence outlining attempts to bypass verification checks. Officials say the evidence demonstrates a deliberate effort to manipulate Maine’s property tax relief system for personal gain.
The defendant has been charged with theft by deception, unsworn falsification, and tax fraud. Restitution, financial penalties, and additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.
Today’s Fraud of the Day comes from reporting by the Maine Attorney General’s Office and the Portland Press Herald regarding property tax rebate fraud in 2025.
