13. Any agent knowingly and falsely informing or causing to be informed, any person applying to him to locate or purchase any land within his division or agency, that the same has already been located, assigned or purchased, shall be liable therefor, to the person so applying, in the sum of $5 for each acre of land which the person so applying offered and was entitled to locate or purchase, to be recovered by action in any court of competent jurisdiction.
R. S. 1964, c. 102, s. 13.