Selling Land

MartinW6

Hi Folks,

My dad bought some land near Luton almost ten years ago. The first I heard of it was last week when mum (dad passed away this year) explained to me that someone had called her asking to buy the plot of land. For some reason they wanted her to deposit £5,000 into a Halifax account. This was the point where mum hung up on them.

We thought nothing more of it, until mum started getting more calls this week. Mum asked them to speak to me, as she's more comfortable if I deal with financial matters (and was very wary about giving them any money). Unfortunately they won't talk to me directly as 'it's against the law'. They also tried to explain that her deposit would be secured via 'a bond', but mum didn't really follow what they were saying. Anway, despite mum repeatedly stating that she wanted them to talk to me, they continue to call her. Last night she received a letter stating that they would pay x for the land, and to contact them for further details. This gave me a little more to go on, so I looked them up - OCBC banking corporation. They seem to have an office in London - but when I ring them, I go through to a switchboard.

Whay do you guys think? I'm extremely hesitant to give them any money, but I don't want mum to lose out on a potentially nice bit of money.

paddyrg

Why the hell would you pay them £5k for them to buy your land? It's insane. Not identifying themselves? Ridiculous. Run away!

MartinW6

paddyrg wrote: »

Why the hell would you pay them £5k for them to buy your land? It's insane. Not identifying themselves? Ridiculous. Run away!

I am Brave Sir Robin!

Onawingandaprayer

So they wish to buy some land your dad owned and to in order for it to be sold, you need to pay £5k into an HSBC account?

Can you smell a rodent? I can...

Bantex_2

Tell them to put their offer in writing.

MartinW6

Bantex wrote: »

Tell them to put their offer in writing.

They have put the offer in writing, BUT there's no form with the letter - just the amount they're offering and an instruction to ring them.

It's a little frustrating as mum is struggling to understand what they're suggesting, and - as I mentioned - they simply won't talk to me.

I've looked up OCBC banking corporation, and they seem genuine but there's no way we're paying them money in order to buy our property.

verybigchris

... someone had called her asking to buy the plot of land...

Scam: any respectable firm would communicate in writing

...For some reason they wanted her to deposit £5,000 into a Halifax account...

Scam: because, well, duh!

...This was the point where mum hung up on them ... mum started getting more calls this week...

Scam: pestering after being hung up on.

...they won't talk to me directly...

Scam: they think they've got a better chance of conning your mum

... OCBC banking corporation. They seem to have an office in London - but when I ring them, I go through to a switchboard...

Scam: piggy-backing on a genuine global firm with no UK presence, so they sound legit but can't be rumbled.

What do you guys think?

Sounds legit

Bantex_2

MartinW6 wrote: »

They have put the offer in writing, BUT there's no form with the letter - just the amount they're offering and an instruction to ring them.

It's a little frustrating as mum is struggling to understand what they're suggesting, and - as I mentioned - they simply won't talk to me.

I've looked up OCBC banking corporation, and they seem genuine but there's no way we're paying them money in order to buy our property.

Blank out the personal details and post the letter on here.

antrobus

Bantex wrote: »

Blank out the personal details and post the letter on here.

Don't see the point in going to all that effort myself.

This is 100% a scam. For one thing, why would the real OCBC want someone to "deposit £5,000 into a Halifax account" when it's a bank itself?

verybigchris wrote: »

...Scam: piggy-backing on a genuine global firm with no UK presence, so they sound legit but can't be rumbled....

Actually it does have a UK presence. It has a London branch, and is listed by the BoE as one of the 'Banks incorporated outside the EEA authorised to accept deposits through a branch in the UK'.

I suppose the OP could always call the number given for the London branch (20 7653 0900) and see what they have to say about the letter.

http://www.ocbc.com/business-banking/large-corporates/international-presence.html

MartinW6

antrobus wrote: »

I suppose the OP could always call the number given for the London branch (20 7653 0900) and see what they have to say about the letter.

http://www.ocbc.com/business-banking/large-corporates/international-presence.html

That sounds like a very good idea, thanks antrobus.

xylophone

My dad bought some land near Luton almost ten years ago. The first I heard of it was last week when mum (dad passed away this year) explained to me that someone had called her asking to buy the plot of land

.

Have you proof that your father bought this land?