Buying a house? Stop before handing over your money as criminals pose as solicitors

CAMPAIGN warning of criminals posing as solicitors, estate agents or buyers to divert payments during home sales has been launched, with victims of this crime typically losing more than £80,000.

- 

Payment diversion fraud during property sales involves criminals intercepting and redirecting legitimate funds used in home purchases.

The aim is to manipulate victims into transferring house deposit funds and/or balance of purchase funds to fraudsters instead of their legitimate destination.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and The Law Society have launched the joint campaign aimed at solicitors and conveyancers. It is being delivered with the Home Office's Stop! Think Fraud campaign.

Action Fraud figures show that from April 2024 to March 2025, there were 143 reports of this type of payment diversion fraud, with victims losing an average of £82,000.

Of these victims, 32 per cent were aged 40 to 49, and 27 per cent were 30 to 39, making the average age of victims significantly lower than for many frauds.