Experts warn property owners to be alert over rising fraud risks
Cash house buyer Good Move is warning sellers to stay vigilant as criminals use increasingly sophisticated methods to impersonate homeowners and sell properties they don’t own.
In recent years, cases of property impersonation fraud have increased, costing millions in attempted scams. Between 2024 and 2025, HM Land Registry stopped more than £59m worth of fraudulent property applications.
The scams often involve criminals pretending to be legitimate homeowners, using stolen personal information and forged documents to deceive estate agents, solicitors, or potential buyers.
Once the sale goes through, the fraudsters pocket the proceeds and disappear before the real homeowner even realises their property has been sold.
These scams pose the greatest threat to certain types of properties - particularly those that don’t have a mortgage, are vacant, rented out, or not registered with HM Land Registry.
Such homes can become easy targets because there are fewer parties monitoring financial activity or title changes.
Although it’s not legal for someone to sell your property without your consent, if criminals were to impersonate you or obtain false ownership documents then it could happen.
Whilst rare, the sheer number of blocked applications from 2024 to 2025 alone showcase that this is still a huge problem in the UK, caused by relatively sophisticated criminals.
They are preying on those by taking personal information such as address and signature and then use this to create fake documentation or even transfer the title of the property into their own name.
Experts warn that many victims don’t realise their details have been compromised until it’s too late. The rise of digital documentation and online property transactions has made it easier for fraudsters to exploit vulnerabilities in identity verification systems.
Homeowners should watch out for the following red flags, which could indicate someone is attempting to impersonate them or tamper with their property title: Unexpected bills addressed to somebody else at your property, especially if you’ve lived there for a significant amount of time; notifications from HM Land Registry about changes to your title; tenants or strangers claiming to have bought your home; missing post, such as bills; any unusual financial activity
If any of these signs appear, property owners are urged to contact HM Land Registry immediately and alert their solicitor.
Taking simple steps can make all the difference to protect yourself as a seller, Good Move says.
Don’t share your documentation with anyone other than recognised professionals, only work with trusted house buyers and solicitors, and sign up for property alerts.
This is a service from HM Land Registry that will notify you of any changes.
Nima Ghasri, director at Leeds-based Good Move, said: “This is one of those occasions where it seems like it will never happen to you, and whilst it thankfully isn’t an everyday occurrence, it is still happening.
"If it’s criminals chancing their arm then the likelihood is that it will be stopped because checks are substantial, however given the number of transactions that have been attempted, it’s clear to see there is a real problem.
"It’s important to protect yourself as a seller and take simple steps, but be acutely aware of the way scammers work, and they are only getting more advanced.”