<P> Similar terms came from the early 20th century where con - men would sell landmarks to which no one owns the title such as the Brooklyn Bridge to newly arrived immigrants in the United States . The phrase about gullibility referring to those events said, "if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you ." Those evolved in the 1960s and 1970s to include fraudulent sales of worthless swampland real estate in Florida . </P> <P> Though the term originates in the United States, it is now also understood and used in other English - speaking countries . </P> <P> Grant Oster points out that the practice of the unseen property scam predates the existence of the United States . He points to Erik the Red's sale of colonization of Greenland, circa 982, as an example . </P> <P> The common usage of this term implies that swampland is worthless . Without development or some ability to develop it, it is not valuable for real estate purposes . There have been cases that swampland was purchased and turned into very valuable property, notably for the creation of Walt Disney World Resort and also to some extent including many developed lands in Florida . On the other hand, there are also arguments made for the value of scenery and wildlife found in swamplands in their natural condition . Sometimes that is done by businesses to meet a development permit requirement to preserve some Florida land in order to build on other Florida land . </P>

I've got some land to sell you in florida