NASHVILLE (AP) — Secretary of State Tre Hargett is warning home buyers and sellers about a scam involving real estate titles.

According to the office's business services division, letters have been sent to at least eight real estate companies suggesting that there are claims against titles of more than two dozen residential properties.

The letters are postmarked from Portland, Ore., and claims they were submitted on behalf of an organization called "the French Trust." The letters threaten court action against anyone attempting to sell any of the listed properties.

Hargett said it was not immediately clear the motivation for sending the letters, but said the information in the letters is not true. He urged people to contact the business services division for assistance at 615-741-2286.