Police issue Land Registry empty homes scam warning
Home owners are being warned yet again about scams where criminal groups target empty properties to apply for a mortgage or loan.
The scams are not new but the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau’s Proactive Intelligence Team (NFIB) is warning home owners that it has information showing criminal networks identifying empty properties by using names on published obituaries and carrying out research on the Land Registry.
Once a suitable property is discovered the criminal group then organise for fake documentation to be produced and register on the electoral role and with utility providers, an alert from the NFIB said. The NFIB warned: “The group tirelessly work through the legal hurdles until the funds are released by the organisation, whilst the innocent party has no idea a crime has taken place.”
It highlights four situations when fraudsters can also take advantage:
· Owners are absent.
· There are buy-to-let landlords.
· Owners are living abroad.
· Elderly people don’t live in their properties for reasons such as long-term hospital or residential care.
Owners who are concerned their property might be subject to a fraudulent sale or mortgage can alert the Land Registry’s Property Fraud Line on 0300 006 7030. Property owners are also being urged to sign up for Land Registry’s free Property Alert service so they will receive a notification if someone tries to take out a mortgage on their home.
