02072568080

Mud hits the fan: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13462052

The scam investment outfit who call themelves “Buy UK Land The British Land Authority” use exactly the same photo on their website as Century Property Group Ltd - compare -
http://www.buyukland.com & http://www.century-group.co.uk/land-acquisition.html
Exactly the same photograph is used by yet another landbanking outfit called Asset Land Incorporated on http://assetlandincnewbury.co.uk
On further investigation it turns out that a certain Stuart Cohen is the person who is operating Asset Land Inc as well as Buy UK Land, and many other company names, using an address in Panama and a mailbox at 64 Knightsbridge London. None of these are even registered as companies in the UK! He is also involved with Century Group.

I am an FSA authorised adviser based in the City of London and am in the process of due diligence re land purchases for a client who has contracted to do so on their behalf. They had been approached directly by a land banking company not Century as it happens but we are looking at all of the providers out there.

What I will say is that this is an area for great caution and direct purchases of land should be undertaken only after extreme DD. If you are concerned about doing this effectively then you should use a professional to do so for you. I would suggest an FSA authorised adviser who has to adhere to the FSA guidelines and would be culpable for poor/misleading advice. They would also be insured against such a claim should they arise.

Re the notes made by BEWARE you have obviously not performed accurate DD on this project as by looking at the Bettabuild site it is clear the company (Bettabuild north west Ltd companies number 05072382) does exist and on closer inspection has also built significant developments in the region.

This in no way should be considered a "positive report" or a suggestion to buy land, only a suggestion for private investors to perform accurat DD or take professional advice.

Knowing  which questions to ask and to whom is the hardest part!

.After investing within land many years ago in Ireland and seeing a pr petty healthy return, I too am considering this venture. After all, what could be worse than buying freehold land? If the price is right and all the facts regarding housing stack up then surely it’s a no brainer??

I live in South West London where plans are submitted all the time to develop Greenbelt Land as there simply is no room for further developments. Whilst I am not suggesting that everyone puts their entire savings into Land Companies, surely its common sense to look at purchasing Greenbelt Land with the view to sell to potential developers in the near future. If the Labour Government granted planning to develop 16'000 acres of Greenbelt Land, surely this trend will continue with the current Government??

The best advice is to seriously look at the business model of the company and not listen to what the salesman on the phone tells you, read the facts and take a look at the Local Development requirements of the area in question. I have downloaded many PDF versions since taking a look at Various Land Bankers but have yet to part with any cash. I do agree that some sites seem totally unacceptable for planning permission to ever be granted but if there was a formula to picking the right sites, these companies wouldn’t offer this investment to the likes of you and I?

In summary, if I had the free cash then I would definitely be buying my own greenbelt land and submitting for rezoning.  This is simply not an option so I am using gut instinct when it comes to looking at these potential sites.

http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/Company/Find?q=06726999 Century Land whatever it might be today

Look at Bordeaux Wines from:
www.vintageinternational.co.uk
co.no:06680071

www.capitalalternatives.co.uk.
Co.No:06311787

Also see:Stephen Wheeler(Centuary Group) of WheelBrokers TA6 4AW. (01278420101) and at Wheeler and Son, Taunton:
Stephen Wheeler of The Granary, Chilton Trinity, TA5 2BH (currently for sale).
Formally of Wizard Events Ltd and Wizard Land and Properties Ltd

That is:
www.vintageinternational.co.uk
http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/06680071

and

www.capitalalternatives.co.uk
http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/06311787

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2011 ... he-la.html#more

Montrose Partners and seven more landbanking firms shut down
BY ANDREW PENMAN ON JULY 6, 2011 11:00 PM IN INVESTMENTS
The High Court has been busy liquidating landbanking firms, ones that promise rich returns to investors if they buy green field sites that then get planning permission for housing - which invariably doesn't happen.

The latest batch to be wound-up in the public interest are Montrose Partners Limited, The Montrose Partnership Limited, Stowford Place Investments Ltd, ASA Global Investments Limited, Prinston Estates Limited, Alpha Capital Investments (London) Limited, Greenacre Global Partners Limited and Vinci Trading Limited.

Company Investigations Supervisor Chris Mayhew said: "This sends a clear message to unscrupulous directors; their business will be investigated and where necessary brought before the Courts.

"We work closely with other regulatory agencies such as the Financial Services Authority and the City of London Police to put a stop to unscrupulous companies that peddle their near worthless schemes to the public using high pressure sales tactics, often to the elderly or vulnerable.

"The public should not fall for a slick sales pitch, glossy marketing brochure, fancy websites and promises of easy money - not one of the land banking companies that the Service has investigated and wound up has made a profit for the investor".


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They are a scam end of. Ask one of their consultants about their past record about making clients money. They haven't- fat slags!!!

See my post below

Imperial wines of London are also a part of the Bromley triangle set and have been subject to police investigations too

Facts are they want to sell you green belt farm land in 0.03 acre sized parcels at a price of £6,500 to £20,000 dependant on how gullible the punter is. That equates to £221,000 - £680,000 per acre. 0.03 of an acre will allow a small 3 bedroom semi with a one car driveway and an amazing sized rear garden a staggering 2 metres long unfortunately your wheely bins will take up 25% of your garden length.

The same farm land bought direct from the farmer will cost between £5,000 - £10,000 max. If you do fancy buying green belt land as an investment buy it straight from the farmer. Simples. Problem is green belt land won't be given any planning approval in any of our lifetimes so the only people that may benefit from your investment is your great great great great great great great great great grandchildren.

These companies tend to last 2 years max if their lucky enough to stay below the radar. They employ sales staff from backgrounds such as car sales, telesales, direct sales etc and none have any qualifications in land buying or construction. Once their new employees are brainwashed into believing in these scams whether it be land, wine or carbon credits they are unleashed on the public via cold calling and prey on the old and vulnerable.

But hopefully the fraud squad, fsa and other government bodies will soon realise that they need to go for the companies that buy the land from the farmer then sell it to these companies like century group, and all the others named in Bromley commoners post. These are the ltd companies set up in the background that have a longer life and show very healthy profits making their conman directors alot of money. When you search these companies they have no website and no contact details which is unusual but they don't need to advertise as their customers are the companies they set up with fall guy directors usually single and aged in their late 20's to early 30's and from the Bromley area.

I have been receiving cold calls from Imperial Wines of London on investing in wines. Does anyone know if they are legit? I checked companies house website and they are a registered UK company, but if anyone has more information, that would be great.

JL

Be careful with wine i had a very sticky situation where i nearly bought wine from a
Who were charging to much shopped around and got a better price not the cheapest
But good service and they keep in touch and they dont try and sell something to every time we talk

One of my relatives has bought from them and we are worried that they are up to no good, its early days so if you have any useful info, it would be much appreciated

I have been a client of imperial wines of London since Jan2009. My first purchase was a Mouton Rothschild 1998 for £2400. I sold this case of wine back to them in June 2010 for £3600.
I have been happy with them as a company.

I reply to Bromley Commoner's question - "Does anybody know the names of the Bordeaux wine investment scam firms they also operate?"

David Evans, Andrew Michael Dunne, Scott Assemakis and Ian Vanderhook are just some of the protagonists of a massive 'alternative' investment fraud ring based in Bromley, Kent.

Countrywide Land Holdings Ltd, Consolidated Land UK, Regional Land, Paramount Land UK, Synergy Land Group, Kingswood Land Ltd, the Property Partnership, Burnhill Land Investments Ltd, are all just a few of the outfits they set up on the "landbanking" part of their scam. On the wine investment arm of their scam they are responsible for running companies such as Bordeaux UK Ltd, European Fine Wines Ltd, Capital Vintners Ltd, Fine Wine Vintners Ltd, Blakeney Bridge Wine Ltd, Imperial Wines of London Ltd etc. They are behind several more of these bogus wine investment companies. If any of these contact you by cold call, trying to flog plots of greenbelt land, Bordeaux wine or carbon credits, make sure you report them to the City of London Police and to Action Fraud. Whatever you do, never send them any money, because you will never see it again.

By the way - "John" above, is more than likely to be Ben Cazaly (Benjamin Philip Cazaly) once of Bromley, now Orpington, 'MD' of Imperial Wines of London Ltd and one of Andrew Dunne's 'boys'. They set up Imperial Wines of London Ltd in May 2008 using the same formation agent in Stockport near Manchester as was previously used by Andrew Dunne, Malcolm Keith Hills and James Hewitt to set up the fraud wine investment companies Churchill Wines Ltd, James Hewitt Associates Ltd, Winestore (UK) Ltd and Bordeaux UK Ltd. More recently they used the same Stockport address to set up the landbanking fraud company Plateau Development & Land Ltd (the phoenix company of Countrywide Land Holdings Ltd and Regional Land).

You'd be the first to make money as no other investor has. To be honest your comment sounds like one made by an employee. I know for a fact the City of London police have a huge interest inImperial Wines of London and are very eager to hear from other investment victims!

I am Benjamin Cazaly, Managing Director of Imperial Wines of London. Having read the comments posted on this site, I am deeply concerned by some of the matters raised. I wish to comment personally as I have no intention of allowing the reputation of Imperial Wines of London to be tarnished in any way.
I would like to state that the majority of these comments are completely inaccurate and false, one has a small element of truth.
1. "John" above, is more than likely to be Ben Cazaly (Benjamin Philip Cazaly)."
I can confirm that I have only been made aware of this website within the last 24 hours and can see no fit reason why I would wish to conceal my identity.
2. Imperial Wines of London has no connection whatsoever with David Evans, Andrew Michael Dunne, Scott Assemakis and Ian Vanderhook, financially or emotionally and never has. IWL was set up by myself and is solely my company.
3. "You'd be the first to make money as no other investor has" - Again, 100% false and inaccurate. Imperial Wines of London has made many, many clients great profits. This does not mean 'profit on paper', this means profit received in their bank accounts. Some clients have even felt the need to write to IWL to thanks us for the gains made, as stated on our website.
4. " I know for a fact the City of London police have a huge interest in Imperial Wines of London".
YES IWL did get investigated by City of London Police in 2009. The result of their investigation found every single client to have their purchased wine in their own private account, stored at the HMRC Government Bonded Warehouse. At IWL we set up private accounts for all of our clients which are given a unique 6 digit account code. These codes allow our clients to personally manage their accounts online through the website run by the bonded warehouse.They also found the original complaint was false, The City of London Police made no charges against IWL and subsequently we are successfully operating today. The City of London Police apologised deeply for the effects of their investigation and sent letters to myself and all IWL clients apologising for any inconvenience caused.

I can only imagine that the people who posted these comments are looking out for the well-being of other would-be investors. I am not ignorant to the fact that scam wine companies exist, the result of this being extremely detrimental to my company.
If you believe any of the comments posted to be true, I invite you our offices at 1 Poultry in London where I will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have in person.

Benjamin Cazaly, Managing Director
Imperial Wines of London

Dear Beckenham Eagle

I have read your post with some interest.  Your information is not only misleading but also false, consequently, if this is not removed immediately I will have no alternative but to seek legal advice for slander of Blakeney Bridge Wine Ltd.

Firstly, neither myself nor my company has ever had or intend to have any connection with the scam land companies you mention.  We are not an arm of Countrywide nor are we linked to them in any way (or any other company mentioned or otherwise!).

Secondly, our products are real and tangible.  Our clients are given storage facility details and their own account within the facility. They are welcome to go and "visit" to make sure the product exists, everything is transaparent and legitimate, and more importantly, real.  Our clients have, so far, made profit on their purchase and we envisage this continuing.

Whilst we are aware of scam companies, whether they be land, wine, carbon, diamonds et al please do not state that all companies are scam, unless you have solid proof of this.

The financial damage caused by these companies is terrible to the individuals targetted, but detrimental and false comments such as your own are also damaging to the reputation of legitimate companies and will consequently put hard-working individuals on the dole queue.  Our clients, as well as anyone else, are more than weclome to visit us at our offices in Croydon and meet with myself and our legal and compliance team at any time.

I again urge you to remove your slanderous comments about Blakeney Bridge Wine Ltd, or I will have no alternative but to seek legal advice to commence proceedings against you.

Jason Chalk
Director
Blakeney Bridge Wine Ltd