Sanderson Forbes - Genuine Wine Investment or SCAM?

Sirlaughalot

About 18 months ago a good friend asked for me opinion on a letter he received through the post regarding wine investments with a company called Sanderson Forbes.

As i know a little amount about the run of the mill investments i.e stocks and shares i know very little about these specialist investment areas so i could offer no opinion other than to say seek more advice from a expert in the wine investment field.

18 months down the line it comes to light that my friend made a significant investment in the Sanderson Forbes wine project and more concerning for him the company seems to have vanished without trace about 9-12 months ago.

Having looked on the internet i can confirm that to be the case. Looks like Sanderson Forbes may have gone into liquidation but my friend swears he has heard nothing from them since he made is investment.

Does anyone know of this company?

If Sanderson Forbes went into liquidation then surely documentation must have been sent out to investors/creditors?

If wine has been bought then would it be correct to assume this stock must be located somewhere and be part of any asset disposal by the liquidator?

If it turns out to be a SCAM is there any governing body for the wine investment sector or any form of consumer protection body who my friend can turn to for help.

Many thanks for any help you may be able to offer on behalf of a distraught friend.

talexuser

http://investdrinks-blog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/sanderson-forbes-ltd-another-vanished.html

Drp8713

I can understand investing in wine, but why on earth would you may a middle man anything.

Surely you would read up on what is collectable then go to a wholesaler/specialist shop and buy it.

Its a bit like wanting to collect stamps then paying someone with a criminal record for theft to pop down to the post office for you to buy them. He may come back with some of your money, or some stamps but hes gonna take a chunk of money from you and potentially !!!!!! off with the rest of your money when he feels like it.

Sirlaughalot

Drp8713 wrote: »

I can understand investing in wine, but why on earth would you may a middle man anything.

Surely you would read up on what is collectable then go to a wholesaler/specialist shop and buy it.

Its a bit like wanting to collect stamps then paying someone with a criminal record for theft to pop down to the post office for you to buy them. He may come back with some of your money, or some stamps but hes gonna take a chunk of money from you and potentially !!!!!! off with the rest of your money when he feels like it.

Hi there,

I could n`t agree more. My friend as always been very cautious when investing anywhere. i told him about 3 years ago to invest in high dividend stocks with safe/boring companies but he would have non of it.
This decision was well out of character but alas after some other strange behavior over the last 2 years it has been confirmed he is suffering from a form of dementia similar to Alzheimer's Disease which would explain his decision.

Thanks for your help

Sirlaughalot

talexuser wrote: »

http://investdrinks-blog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/sanderson-forbes-ltd-another-vanished.html

Thanks talexuser,
That was a great piece of information hopefully something i can get my teeth into. If the warehouse stated is legit they may be able to shed some light in to what happened to SF and where any stock ended up.

Thanks my mate will be pleased

jimjames

Sirlaughalot wrote: »

Hi there,

I could n`t agree more. My friend as always been very cautious when investing anywhere. i told him about 3 years ago to invest in high dividend stocks with safe/boring companies but he would have non of it.

I find it hard to understand (although in this case maybe easier) why anyone who thinks share based investments are too risky would throw their cash at a company offering a too good to be true investment opportunity with worthless guarantees when they could buy into solid UK companies with long track records.

I think the media have a lot to answer for when they concentrate on headlines such as £x billion wiped off FTSE today when the long term story is so very different.

G_M

Wine can be a great investment. If you know what you are doing.

But 9 out of 10 of the 'wine investment companies' are scams.

Contact City of London Police.

Sirlaughalot

jimjames wrote: »

I find it hard to understand (although in this case maybe easier) why anyone who thinks share based investments are too risky would throw their cash at a company offering a too good to be true investment opportunity with worthless guarantees when they could buy into solid UK companies with long track records.

I think the media have a lot to answer for when they concentrate on headlines such as £x billion wiped off FTSE today when the long term story is so very different.

Hi JJ,

The point i was trying to make perhaps not very well was that my mate 4 years ago would not even look at safe/solid relatively speaking stocks/shares. The illness obviously took it`s toll.

planteria

and the scammers will have latched on to that fact. do whatever you can to help him:grouphug:

and i reckon more than 9 in 10, G_M. Wine, Coloured Diamonds, etc. are a nightmare. im on the lists of some of them, and they Are persuasive:(.

Sirlaughalot

Having googled quite a lot of info my info trail has led me to the company going into liquidation with quite a large quantity of wine going missing. In my friends case only 1 of the 4 purchases he made ever made it to a safe/bonded storage.

From what i can see the company has not been liquidated yet and a police fraud investigation may be underway. That`s where the trial ends for me unless anyone knows anymore.

Will be in touch with the storage company(EHD) tomorrow but if the police are involved i`m pretty sure i will be directed to them.