When by mistake or wrongful act of the treasurer or other officer real property has been sold on which no tax was due at the time or whenever real property is sold in consequence of error in describing such real property in the tax receipt, the county shall hold the purchaser harmless by paying him or her the amount of principal, interest, and costs to which he or she would have been entitled had the real property been rightfully sold. The treasurer or other officer shall be liable to the county therefor upon his or her official bond, or the purchaser or his or her assignee may recover directly of the treasurer or other officer in an action on his or her official bond.