Mortgage fraud

It involves professionals like accountants, solicitors, or surveyors who indulge in harmful work like overvaluing properties, overstating the organisation's income, or hijacking the conveyancing procedure. It involves taking out mortgages in the name of either a dead person or suffering from identity theft. 

The criminals who serve as solicitors or insurers may try to get their mortgage applications sanctioned in the name of the unsuspecting victim. 

They even manipulate the Land Registry data to get mortgages from different lenders and indulge in changing title deeds without the owner's knowledge, allowing the sale of the property. 

Owners who suspect such a sale should alert the Land Registry and speak to trained staff to seek guidance against such activities. 

It is not a victimless crime as the intermediaries and borrowers understand the consequences of committing such acts, making false disclosures. If fraud is detected, the lender may report it to the authorities to prevent future attempts. 

The most common type of fraud 

Lenders get false income that manipulates the applicant's genuine source of income. In addition, the borrowers give false primary or secondary employment details to get the loans. 

Also, the customer may indulge in non-disclosure of adverse credit, which affects their ability to borrow. In certain other cases, they do not have any deposit, or the funds used cannot be sustained. 

Property appraisal fraud happens when the report shows higher prices. Then, one adds charges related to fake renovations or other modifications to increase the price, and ultimately, the debt burden goes on the buyers.

In the case of property hijacks, criminals hijack vacant or property available for rent and seek funds. They take over the identity of the genuine owner to get lendings and then disappear.  

If the banks identify any such bogus activities, they will decline the request and report to authorities against the applicant to impact their ability to obtain financial services in future.  

They have been improving the technology support system to develop the front-end control. It supports the management and helps deliver oversight of the third-party professional during the approval process of requests. 

The lenders and the intermediaries need to collaborate and manage such risks. 

How To Protect Yourself?

• Get reliable referrals for funds through trusted partners. 

• Avoid buying under pressure. Do not apply for a loan using bogus documents. Instead, consult experts to review the documents. 

• Also, you should always get a credit report and examine its details carefully.

• If you are applying for a loan, check the credentials to make a good judgement.

• If you face any fraud-like situation, report it to the regulatory authorities and the financial institutions.