Unsure of what to do - Property Investment Scam ?

[daisyflower]

Hi
This is totally off topic, but so many people visit this forum, Im hoping someone might have some advice.

My father (71) has been diagnosed with cancer, and seems to have lost his senses.

My mum and dad have always saved, and have a tidy sum (many thousands) in their bank accounts

I have just found out that in June my dad had been cold called by a company called the 'land asset group' who have managed to sell him 500 sq acres of land in Brazil - for the sum of £4950. (my mum knew nothing about it) promising large returns

My dad showed me the purchase certificate that has a company number, and the company name - land asset group ltd (or something similar) I went to companies house and checked the details but the company number and the company name doesn't exist.

Land asset group have been calling him constantly and they have been talking to him for upto 90 mins a day trying to get more money out of him.

My dad has stopped all the paper bank statements going to their house, so my mum doesn't know what he has been spending.

My dad went back into hospital again today for chemo, and will be in for about 10 days, Land assset group phoned again and spoke to my mum, who told them that she didnt want them to phone her again.

the man on the phone has said that my dad has agreed to buy another £120,000 of land, basically all their savings.

I cant find anything about this 'company' the website (landassetgroup.com) gives an office address, which is office rental, I can find loads of threads about people who have been cold called, but nothing else, every blog seems to be written by that company.

How can I stop this 'company' phoning my parents, how can I stop him giving them his money.

Who can I report the company to, they know that my father is ill, so are preying on him.

I thought about trading standards, and the FSA - but if there are any others please let me know

I am really worried, My mum feels sick at the amount of money they are trying to get, she has enough on her plate without this company phoning. -

Any help or advice will be gratefully received, it might not even be a scam, but Im trying to protect their money

Thank you

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

This is absolutely horrendous - go to the police. This must surely be a criminal matter which should be deal with by the fraud squad? Contact Age Concern too, I think they have issued statements in the past regarding scams targetting elderly and vulnerable people - act fast and make sure that your father is not on some list of suckers too .......if you fear your father is no longer capable of dealing with his finances perhaps you and your mum should consider a Power of Attorney until such time as he is well enough to take care of his affairs himself. Good luck.

 

[SamStones]

From what you have said it sounds like a scam... I'd certainly echo doodles view of going straight to the police. If you have any further information on the company then post it here... if you have a company number then post it up here too so we can see what we can find out. I didn't find any company called land asset group but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

 

[maxine]

Oh dear!! You could try trading standards, office of fair trading, have a look at distance selling regulations in the uk which talks about cooling off periods and which industries are excluded and covered elsewhere such as financial services.

I would also recommend talking with your bank to see if they can advise on fraud prevention and give some guidelines specific to your parents

Good luck

 

[SamStones]

Just done a bit more digging... if you type "land asset group" into google it's first suggestion is "land asset group scam" , a search for this reveals a web site they have set up:
http://www.landassetgroupscam.co.uk/

Obviously something they've done purposefully. The web site doesn't give any real information and nowhere does it state any company information for us to look up.

Convinced it's a scam, you just need to report it and do whatever you can to stop them being able to get to your father in the future.

Best of luck

 

[daisyflower]

I will try to get the details that were written on the certificate.

I don't know much about what happened, alarm bells rang when my dad told me that he has invested nearly 5k and looked really happy that he was going to get tons of money back- he invested back in June and I only found out today, so the cooling off period doesn't apply

I have already reported the land asset group to ofcom, I am going to try and get in touch with my parents bank tomorrow, and hopefully talk to someone about it , Unfortunatly my mum doesn't have any of the internet banking details, so can't check online for any transactions (not that she would know how to), so Im really hoping that he hasn't spent even more !

Can you get the bank to disallow someone who wants to spend money, If my dad wants to send £120k to this company, would the bank be able to stop it, they have a joint account, and my mum doesn't want them to phone her again.
I beleive the £5k was spent on his debit card.

Im feeling sick just at the thought of it !

 

[deniser]

There was a TV programme about exactly this type of fraud a couple of weeks ago. It was all run from Spain and targetted the elderly. Once they had bought one lot of worthless shares, they were then telephoned constantly. The programme showed the police arresting some of the ringleaders. You should call the police first.

If I were you I would get the phone diverted to you for a while and give your parents a mobile to use in the meantime or change their number altogether.

 

[garyk]

Yep agree with the above get the number cut off or suspended so at least they cant be hassled. As mentioned above this is similar to the false share certificate issues, also known as boiler room scams. Do report it as if others are in a similar position the fraud squad will get involved.

 

[James Greg]

There was a TV programme about exactly this type of fraud a couple of weeks ago. It was all run from Spain and targetted the elderly. Once they had bought one lot of worthless shares, they were then telephoned constantly. The programme showed the police arresting some of the ringleaders. You should call the police first.

If I were you I would get the phone diverted to you for a while and give your parents a mobile to use in the meantime or change their number altogether.

Absolutely correct. I was thinking the same too and one thing would be more worthwhile if you could convince your dad to stop spending his money and show him that the company is fraud, but the police should be informed immediately so that these people would be brought in the light of justice.

 

[cjsdh]

Is definitely cheating, you to the local police.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Registrant:
LAG
Level 17 Dashwood House 69 Old Broad Street
London, London EC2M 1QS
GB

Domain name: LANDASSETGROUP.COM


Administrative Contact:
Nosurname, Chris

Level 17 Dashwood House 69 Old Broad Street
London, London EC2M 1QS
GB
+44.2072564252 Fax: +44.2072564122

Technical Contact:
Nosurname, Chris

Level 17 Dashwood House 69 Old Broad Street
London, London EC2M 1QS
GB
+44.2072564252 Fax: +44.2072564122



Registration Service Provider:
HostingPanama.com,

http://www.hostingpanama.com



Registrar of Record: TUCOWS, INC.
Record last updated on 20-Sep-2010.
Record expires on 18-Jan-2015.
Record created on 18-Jan-2010.

 

[Mustaka]

I beleive the £5k was spent on his debit card.

If this is the case he can do a retrieval with his bank. It is a form of a charge back. If he was defrauded all he has to do is go to his nearest bank branch and tell the bank he was defrauded. Each bank is slightly different but the normal time is 6 months from the point of purchase.

He will have to sign a document saying he believes he was defrauded and the bank is obligated to give him the money back. His bank will then get the funds back from land asset group via their merchant account. LAG will then have to defend the fraud claim. If they defend it legally then the money will then be re-taken from his account. If they do not that is the end of the matter.

A lot of these companies will be running on merchant accounts that are not actually issued to them direct but fall guy companies. You need to get you dad to do this right away basically. What happens is the burner companies will run until they get mass amounts of charge backs. Basically no money left in the account to claw back.

You also need to make the hard choice to get your mother involved and intervene right away.

Keep us informed as to what happens and I wish you the best of luck.

 

[deniser]

Registrant:
LAG
Level 17 Dashwood House 69 Old Broad Street
London, London EC2M 1QS
GB

Domain name: LANDASSETGROUP.COM


Administrative Contact:
Nosurname, Chris

Level 17 Dashwood House 69 Old Broad Street
London, London EC2M 1QS
GB
+44.2072564252 Fax: +44.2072564122

Technical Contact:
Nosurname, Chris

Level 17 Dashwood House 69 Old Broad Street
London, London EC2M 1QS
GB
+44.2072564252 Fax: +44.2072564122



Registration Service Provider:
HostingPanama.com,

http://www.hostingpanama.com



Registrar of Record: TUCOWS, INC.
Record last updated on 20-Sep-2010.
Record expires on 18-Jan-2015.
Record created on 18-Jan-2010.

Chris Anonymous in an in and out anonymous serviced office in London with hosting in Panama. Not even an attempt to look real!

 

[The Pines]

OP,

I don't know if you've been watching a programme on ITV recently called 'Fraud Squad'. Similar setup, except they were 'selling' shares, i.e. a boiler-room scam.

The Police dealing with it were The City of London Police, Economic Crime Division, they specialise in this type of malarky. Google for them, or maybe watch the programme on the ITV website.

What an utterly poxy situation, I hope you get it resolved soon.

Change the 'phone number immediately.

 

[daisyflower]

I thought I would update you all about this company and what has happened.

My mum and I went to the police, to report it as a scam, although the police couldn't find anything specific against the Land Asset group, they did say that it was probably a scam, and to report it to actionfraud.org.uk who could follow it up.
They also advised me to take power of attorny over my father, so he wouldn't have do deal with it.

They stated that as the company wasn't registered with the FSA they were not allowed to give investment advice, so were illegal on what they were doing.

The next day the Land Asset Group phoned my mum again, fortunatly I was there, and told them to leave us alone, and did he realise that my dad was terminally ill, and that he had told me that he didnt want anything else to do with them.

I was on the phone for 30 mins telling them over and over to leave us alone, the guy from Land Asset Group, kept going on, and on until in the end I put the phone down on him, and barred the number.

Last week the Land Asset Group phoned twice more, and got hold of my dad, and told him that he had to invest at least another £15k, they rang in the morning and again for an hour at 8.30 at night, after he had just got in from another blood transfusion at the hospital.

My mother then phoned me to tell me what had happened, I contacted their telephone company and got them to bar any withheld number from my parents phone.

The sad ending is that my father lost his battle with cancer earlier this week.

The happy ending is that fortunatly my father never gave anymore money to the Land Asset Group

I know that lots of people read this forum, and that it ranks high in search engines.

So hopefully if I link this article to the Land Asset Group http://www.landassetgroup.com/
http://www.land-asset-group.com/
http://www.land-asset-group.co.uk/

If you get involved in this company they will phone, and pester you, totally ignor your families wishes, they target the ill and prey on the week, to sell land in Brazil and other countries.

They were repeatly told that my father was ill, but that didn't stop them

You will get a certificate with a company number on, that doesn't exist.

I just hope that this post saves one person from these vultures

​

 

[Mpg]

Sorry for your loss.

I hope you get it sorted.

RIP

I'm sure Google will pick up on

Land asset group scam

 

[salem]

Hl got a register for this at company house.does that mean the company is genuie

 

[Moneyman]

This sort of investment can only be sold legally to a "sophisticated investor" your dad wouldnt qualify. therefor the sale is illegal under uk law

 

[MikeJ]

The fact that her father died over six months ago would probably stop him qualifying also.

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Odd how such old threads seem to suddenly pop up again for no apparent reason after they've long since been finished with!

 

[QuickHomeBuyers]

My understanding is that property investment and any possible advice related to that is normally not regulated by the FSA. Good topic to research and learn tonight.

 

[Moneyman]

Odd how such old threads seem to suddenly pop up again for no apparent reason after they've long since been finished with!

the wretched search facility strikes again. Howeve i do hate the ones that ask for advice in a crisis and then you never find out what happened in the end.

 

[salem]

Hi
This is totally off topic, but so many people visit this forum, Im hoping someone might have some advice.

My father (71) has been diagnosed with cancer, and seems to have lost his senses.

My mum and dad have always saved, and have a tidy sum (many thousands) in their bank accounts

I have just found out that in June my dad had been cold called by a company called the 'land asset group' who have managed to sell him 500 sq acres of land in Brazil - for the sum of £4950. (my mum knew nothing about it) promising large returns

My dad showed me the purchase certificate that has a company number, and the company name - land asset group ltd (or something similar) I went to companies house and checked the details but the company number and the company name doesn't exist.

Land asset group have been calling him constantly and they have been talking to him for upto 90 mins a day trying to get more money out of him.

My dad has stopped all the paper bank statements going to their house, so my mum doesn't know what he has been spending.

My dad went back into hospital again today for chemo, and will be in for about 10 days, Land assset group phoned again and spoke to my mum, who told them that she didnt want them to phone her again.

the man on the phone has said that my dad has agreed to buy another £120,000 of land, basically all their savings.

I cant find anything about this 'company' the website (landassetgroup.com) gives an office address, which is office rental, I can find loads of threads about people who have been cold called, but nothing else, every blog seems to be written by that company.

How can I stop this 'company' phoning my parents, how can I stop him giving them his money.

Who can I report the company to, they know that my father is ill, so are preying on him.

I thought about trading standards, and the FSA - but if there are any others please let me know

I am really worried, My mum feels sick at the amount of money they are trying to get, she has enough on her plate without this company phoning. -

Any help or advice will be gratefully received, it might not even be a scam, but Im trying to protect their money

Thank you

well I got the registration from company house, but does anybody have got the london police contact as to enable check out about this company and its claims

 

[salem]

this company have a registry at company house, but does that means its real and genuine or a matter of scam and camoflaging the people.

can anyone help with a sound respond

 

[Moneyman]

can people please stop quoting the whole original post in every new post.
just hit reply we have already read the original post.

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

Hi
This is totally off topic, but so many people visit this forum, Im hoping someone might have some advice.

My father (71) has been diagnosed with cancer, and seems to have lost his senses.

My mum and dad have always saved, and have a tidy sum (many thousands) in their bank accounts

I have just found out that in June my dad had been cold called by a company called the 'land asset group' who have managed to sell him 500 sq acres of land in Brazil - for the sum of £4950. (my mum knew nothing about it) promising large returns

My dad showed me the purchase certificate that has a company number, and the company name - land asset group ltd (or something similar) I went to companies house and checked the details but the company number and the company name doesn't exist.

Land asset group have been calling him constantly and they have been talking to him for upto 90 mins a day trying to get more money out of him.

My dad has stopped all the paper bank statements going to their house, so my mum doesn't know what he has been spending.

My dad went back into hospital again today for chemo, and will be in for about 10 days, Land assset group phoned again and spoke to my mum, who told them that she didnt want them to phone her again.

the man on the phone has said that my dad has agreed to buy another £120,000 of land, basically all their savings.

I cant find anything about this 'company' the website (landassetgroup.com) gives an office address, which is office rental, I can find loads of threads about people who have been cold called, but nothing else, every blog seems to be written by that company.

How can I stop this 'company' phoning my parents, how can I stop him giving them his money.

Who can I report the company to, they know that my father is ill, so are preying on him.

I thought about trading standards, and the FSA - but if there are any others please let me know

I am really worried, My mum feels sick at the amount of money they are trying to get, she has enough on her plate without this company phoning. -

Any help or advice will be gratefully received, it might not even be a scam, but Im trying to protect their money

Thank you

...............ooops.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

can people please stop quoting the whole original post in every new post.
just hit reply we have already read the original post.

Aye it's very annoying isn't it.

 

[Doodle-Noodle]

DOn't be so grumpy - it's an old thread anyway! People shouldn't even be replying to it anymore as the whole story has come to a sadly natural end. Get over yourselves!!!!