Instances of property title fraud continue to rise, as criminals use increasingly sophisticated methods to impersonate owners, research from Good Move revealed.
The cash house-buying firm said impersonation remains the most common tactic, with fraudsters using stolen personal information to convince estate agents, solicitors or buyers that they are the legitimate owner.
HM Land Registry blocked more than £59m worth of fraudulent applications between 2024 and 2025, highlighting the scale of attempted scams.
Title fraud typically targets properties that are mortgage-free, empty, rented out or not registered with HM Land Registry.
Criminals may use stolen signatures, forged documents or attempt to transfer ownership into their name without the owner’s knowledge.
Warning signs can include unexpected bills addressed to someone else, missing post, unfamiliar financial activity, tenants or strangers claiming to have purchased the property, and notifications from HM Land Registry about changes to a property title.
Nima Ghasri, director at 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.”
