CJS Custom Land Rovers - Charlie (Charles) Smailes

Just a heads up and a warning to all from the US and elsewhere. Charlie Smailes is back at it and selling Defender under a new company name. CJS Custom Land Rovers. Please reference previous posts about Charlie Smailes. Do not trust this individual. Do not buy from this individual. Multiple people, including myself, have had terrible experiences with him. Here is previous post regarding him.

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/foxhills-defender-centre-surrey.317784/

Here is a news article about one of his scam:

https://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2017/0...y-repair-scam-must-pay-back-15000-to-victims/

He is also on this forum with the member name of Landycentre.

He's got a skip company anorl.

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12834680/officers

And hidden the name land rover as LR in his company name.

https://find-and-update.company-inf...cers/kUU88mXIcBzR5BsPdmAeix_kyUg/appointments

Hi There - I have just joined this forum and been RIPPED OFF by CHARLIE SMAILES - the THIEF and convicted criminal. I saw a LR90 (G471 WAE) on ebay last Thursday (16th Sept '21) and called the number. He wanted £6k and it was going to be a project for me so I was not bothered about condition. Anyway I tell him I am reluctant to send a deposit as I do not know him and he is not a dealer (remember I have never heard of him). He says I have a website I am a legit business - so I Chk the site out and the mobile number matches the ebay one. I send him a bank transfer for £1500 on Friday 17th Sept. This THIEF & LIAR then messages me on Friday night to say he does not have log book V5 and "is that a problem" ! Yes you criminal it is. I tell him I am not happy and not willing to wait for a V5, he then says he has another LR defender newer and usually more expensive but he'll let it go for same money. ALL LIES. He send no images of this vehicle on Friday or Saturday. I then start getting suspicious about him and run detailed checks only to find out he is a convict, scamming in 2017 for £15,000 to 2 vulnerable people (see google), was going to do 9 months inside but pays them back and suspended sentence and community service. In 2016 conviction for illegal fly-tipping. The list carries on. Once I find out about his background I tell him i am NEVER going to BUY ANYTHING FROM HIM. He refuses to return my deposit even though I have whatsapp transcript stating "no problem If you do not like other vehicle money back" BULL****. He starts lying about not having a card-reader ! Then 'oh deposit non-refundable' - I am like 'I do NOT buy vehicles without V5' ** FILTHY CROOK CHARLATAN. ** SURREY POLICE HAVE BEEN INFORMED (Crime ref: P21203525) & SURREY TRADING STANDARDS - I AM HOPING TO SEE HIM IN COURT AND JAIL TIME THIS TIME FOR HIM.

I've bought cars with no V5 before. It 'can' just mean that it has been lost. All it does is shows who is the registered keeper, it doesn't prove ownership.
Why did you send money via bank transfer? Have you not seen/heard the warning about NOT sending money this way?
If you were prepared to fork over £1500 as a deposit, why didn't you go and see it first?
If buying on ebay use either Paypal or a credit card