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What is landbanking?


A landbanking scam involves the selling plots of land which are usually worthless or very low in value, often using high pressure selling techniques, to members of the public as potentially high return investments.

Victims are often led to believe that the land is likely to be developed for housing in the near future and there will be rapid, high level return on their investment once planning permission is granted. 

In reality there is virtually no prospect of planning permission being granted and the investment is worthless.

The land is frequently agricultural land or land which is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, and is not likely to ever be built on. 

In some cases, the land never existed in the first place or there was more than one company selling the same piece of land. 

If you are concerned about any company that you think may be involved in this type of activity please contact us using our Investigations Hotline

 

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Things to be wary of:

1.    Being cold called – unsolicited phone calls.

2.    An impressive sounding company name, (e.g. ‘Profitable Plots’).

3.    Seemingly polite and informed salesperson pressurising you to quickly say ‘yes’.

4.    Suggesting that millions of new houses are required in the UK.

5.    Significant investment return promised in just a few short years and – “I shouldn't tell you this as it’s against company policy, but I've secretly invested myself!”

6.    A glossy brochure and website showing the plots drawn onto a map.

7.    “We've reserved your plot(s)”. 

8.    Repeated follow-up calls and emails, especially if you didn’t sign up on the first phone call.

9.    “We've already drawn up the contract”.

10.  “All of our calls are recorded and we have a legally-binding contract so I'm afraid you can't back out now”.