Home owners warned 'you may not realise' over risk of losing £78,000

People have been warned to stay alert or risk losing over £78,000 to fraudsters. City of London Police have joined with Action Fraud to raise awareness of an increase in payment diversion scams, also known as conveyancing fraud. This is when criminals pose as a solicitor or estate agent to trick someone into sending them a large sum of money.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, Action Fraud had 143 reports of these scams, with the average victim being swindled out of £78,393. The ploy involves criminals infiltrating email chains, such as those between a property buyer and estate agents or solicitors.

They then send a persuasive message asking for funds, often mimicking the language and branding of the legitimate organisation. Alarmingly, victims often lose substantial amounts, as the fraudsters typically strike during the final stages of a transaction, when large sums are being transferred.

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In a warning email about the scam, Action Fraud said: "This type of fraud isn't limited to home purchases - it has also been reported in rental agreements and probate transactions, where funds are transferred as part of estate settlements. Fraudsters will often use hacked or spoofed email accounts so that their messages can appear highly authentic.

"Victims may not realise they've been deceived until the money is gone." The group also shared some advice on how to avoid falling prey to this scam.

If you receive a suspicious message, such as a request to alter payment details, it's crucial to pause and assess the situation yourself. The advice is to reach out to your solicitor directly, either via a phone call or in person, to check the request is genuine.

Another sound practice is to review your email security. Consider changing your email password to incorporate three random words, making it harder to guess.

Setting up two-step verification on your account can also provide an extra layer of protection. The experts also encouraged people to make sure they have the correct bank details.

You can get your solicitor's details at the beginning of the conveyancing process and insist that any changes to these details are communicated to you in person, over the phone, or in writing by letter.