http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/land-scam-money-maker-or-money-taker.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/land-scam-money-maker-or-money-taker.html Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500
Take these steps to make sure the business (land investments) is legitimate and shun any new escape becuase people have already suffered in London Land Scams, Kent Land Scams and Sussex Land Scams:

• Get all earnings claims in writing and be sure the information includes information about other clients who have earned at least as much as the promotion claims.

• Interview references provided by the promoter. Business opportunity promoters are required to give potential purchasers the contact information of at least 10 prior purchasers who live the closest to the potential purchaser.

• Study the business opportunity's franchise disclosure document. Most business opportunity promoters must provide this information to potential purchasers. It will include information about whether the company has faced any lawsuits from prior purchasers or lawsuits alleging fraud.

• If the business involves selling products from well-known companies, call the legal department of the company whose merchandise is being promoted. Find out whether the business opportunity and its promoter are affiliated with the company. Ask whether the company has ever threatened trademark action against the business opportunity promoter.

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The author is a Land Expert based in the UK and consults on Kent Land Scams.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/tips-to-avoid-land-scams.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/tips-to-avoid-land-scams.html Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500 London land scams, Kent land scams and Sussex land scams.

Some of the Tips mentioned below can help you to avoid land scams like the ones happen in UK (London land scams, Kent land scams, Sussex land scams)

• Don't invest in land unless you can afford what lose what you invest.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. No legitimate promoter ever will claim to offer a risk-free land investment--commodities or securities investment is basically a form of speculation or risk-taking, solicitation that claims there is little or no risk is a dangerous "red flag."
• Make sure the broker's address and phone number match the company for which he claims to work.
• Never give money to collector/messenger who comes to a consumer's home following up on a phone sale. Never write the land broker's own name on a check as the payee; use the company's name instead.
• Ask the land selling firm to send a prospectus or other literature about the land and the firm. Don't be swayed, however, by the glossy brochures con artists produce. Also, ask for a written proposal describing conditions of the contract and a form outlining the risks involved with the land investment.
• Ask a phone solicitor to explain the investment to your lawyer or accountant. Even if you don't have an attorney or accountant, ask anyway because the salesperson¹s response might be a tip-off to his real identity.
• A legitimate broker will have no objections while a con artist will say something like, "Normally I'd be glad to, but there just isn¹t enough time for that," or "Those people give land investment advice."
• Arrange for a meeting at the broker¹s or your attorney¹s office. It is never a good idea to do business with a faceless person over the phone. Ask a third party to attend.
Land Investment Scams--How One Scam Works
Fraudulent brokers often run their business from a "boiler room"--a low budget office lined with telephones.

The class fraud involves an out-of-state promoter who contacts prospective buyers by phone. The promoter's sales pitch includes:
• Claims that no risk is involved.
• Guarantees of large and fast profits.
• A requirement that money be paid immediately or the opportunity will be missed.
• A requirement that Land Ownership is required for getting a VISA of UK.

Under the scam, the consumer--convinced the promoter is making a legitimate offer--sends large sums of money to the promoter. The fraudulent promoter then disappears with the money.

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The author is a Land Expert based in the UK and provides consultation on Kent Land Scams.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/how-to-shun-land-scams.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/how-to-shun-land-scams.html Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500 London land scams, Kent land scams and Sussex land scams are some of the scams that recently happened in UK wherein undeveloped or a land that has no title was sold to investors. To avoid such land scams we provide here a list of precautions one should take before Investing in UK land.

Tips to avoid being a victim of Land Scams:

1. Beware of high-pressure tactics.
Say "no" to any person who presses you to make an immediate investment decision. You need time to do your own research. Any ethical salesperson will understand this.

2. Exercise particular caution if you lack financial experience.
It's easy to feel intimidated and overwhelmed by complicated financial slang, but resists the impulse to turn it over to "the expert." Ask lots of questions and insist that the salesperson explain the land investment in everyday language until you understand it. Protect yourself by educating yourself.

3. Keep in mind that good manners don't indicate personal integrity.
Con artists are generally extremely polite, knowing that many of us equate courtesy with personal integrity. Swindlers are also counting on your good manners to keep you from cutting them off. Don't let your good manners land you in trouble; simply hang up if you don't like the conversation.

4. Watch out for salespeople who prey on your fears.
It is common for swindlers to pitch their schemes as a way to eliminate your financial fears for the future. Remember: fear and greed can cloud your good judgment.

5. Exercise particular caution if you are an older citizen.
The elderly, and particularly older women, are a frequent target of scam artists. Always seek the advice of a neutral party before investing in land.

6. Monitor your investments and ask tough questions.
Insist on regular written reports and look for signs of excessive or unauthorized trading of your account. Constant vigilance is a vital part of being an investor. If you suspect that something is muddled be very careful and take full precaution and consult a solicitor.

7. Report land investment scam or abuse immediately, despite any embarrassment or fear you may feel.
The sooner you report fraud or scam, the better your chances of recovering some or all of your investments.

8. Beware of "reload" scams.
Investment losses often create a panic well-known to con artists who have developed schemes to take a "second bite" out of investors. To recoup their losses, victims some-times invest in another scheme (a "reload") in which the con artist promises to make good the original loss--and may offer new higher returns. Often the result is only more losses.

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The author is a Land Expert based in the UK.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/land-scam-web-the-most-happening-place-for-land-scams.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/land-scam-web-the-most-happening-place-for-land-scams.html Wed, 12 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500 This alert tells you how to spot different types of Internet land scam like those happen in UK, the Kent land scam, the London land scam and Sussex land scam are few of such type.
Navigating the Frontier: Where the land frauds or scams Are
The Internet allows individuals or companies to communicate with a large audience without spending a lot of time, effort, or money. Anyone can reach tens of thousands of people by building an Internet web site, posting a message on an online bulletin board, entering a discussion in a live "chat" room, or sending mass e-mails. It's easy for land fraudsters to make their messages look real and credible. But it's nearly impossible for land investors to tell the difference between fact and fiction.

How to Use the web to Invest in UK Land Wisely

If you want to invest in land wisely and steer clear of frauds and scams, you must get the facts. Never, ever, make an investment based solely on what you read in an online newsletter or bulletin board posting, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isn't well known. And don't even think about investing in land on your own in small companies that don't file regular reports, unless you are willing to investigate each company thoroughly and to check the truth of every statement about the company. For instance, you'll need to:

• get financial statements from the company and be able to analyze them;
• verify the claims about new product developments or lucrative contracts;
• call every supplier or customer of the company and ask if they really do business with the company; and
• Check out the people running the company or the people associated with the company and find out if they've ever made money for the investments made before.

Here's how you can use the internet to help you invest in land wisely.

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Land Expert Living in UK

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/who-are-the-scamsters-and-who-are-the-victims.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/who-are-the-scamsters-and-who-are-the-victims.html Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500 • Persuading the investors to invest in fraudulent schemes;
• advertising "buy to let" properties in poor condition and make claims about unrealistic rental returns;
• offering the chance to make a profit from buying up debts;
• Targeting the low salaried people about to retire.
Apart from the above there are quite a few practices that are wrongly termed as scams. One such business is the land investment business. These companies persuade the investors to buy greenbelt land in anticipation of the huge profit they are expected to rake in the future. UK has already heard of Kent Land Scams, Sussex Land Scams & primarily London Land Scams but can this be termed as a scam?

Who are the scamsters?

Land banking companies? Definitely not as they are using the statistics and facts published by the Government and the other research organizations such as the RICS as a basis of the promise that they give to the investors. So then who are the scamsters? It is the rumor spreaders who are the actual scamsters. There has never been an instance in the history that an investor is victimized by a land banking firm. The Government never considers the business as fraudulent one. Then why is it that a small group of people, with half baked knowledge on the demographic conditions of UK, being allowed to spread wrong information to the customers. This actually leads to a question as who are the victims. The victims actually are not the investors but the companies which are into the business of selling land and property to the prospective investors. The investors should be aware of the fact and should take very calculated and informed step before believing the people who are the actual scamsters and they should take a prudent decision as to what should be done with their hard earned money.

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John Smith

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/land-scams-how-to-keep-yourself-apart.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/land-scams-how-to-keep-yourself-apart.html Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500
There have been London Land Scams, Kent Land Scams and Sussex Land Scams in the past but land scams are no more common than other types of real estate fraud. Where there is money to be made fleecing the greedy, the ignorant, or the just plain lazy, con men are sure to follow.

This isn't what is commonly meant by land fraud. Here are some real examples:

- Selling worthless land, in other words land without development potential, and claiming it has great value, the classic being land underwater but also land on the sides of cliff faces, under bridge abutments, and in the medians of highways.
- Promising land buyers development amenities like golf courses, community centers, and tennis courts that will never be built.
- Promising land buyers subdivision improvements like sewers, street lights, sidewalks, even roads knowing none will ever be built.
- Making false representations to buyers about the value of their land, especially claiming that lots bought today will skyrocket in value.
- Vague descriptions on deeds which allow the land promoter to sell the same land to multiple buyers at the same time.
- Illegal or unapproved subdivisions, especially where land has not been properly platted and permits granted.
- Selling land where clear title cannot be transferred, for example, selling land you don't own and masquerading as the real owner through the use of forged documents and fake IDs.
- Reserving mineral, water, and other land rights without disclosing this important fact to buyers at the time of sale.
- Using high pressure and unscrupulous tactics to sell land, especially misrepresenting a buyer's legal rights to cancel an agreed upon sale.
- Selling land of marginal value for excessive prices, especially through the use of easy credit terms ($5 down, $50 a month).
- Selling land where defects such as environmental contamination are known but not disclosed or failing to tell buyers material facts which would ultimately diminish the sale price of the land.

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The author is a Land Expert based in the UK.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>