A woman was sitting at home when an excited young couple knocked on her door and asked to take a look around she was confused – as the home was not for sale. Then a few hours later another prospective buyer arrived atMamta Saini’sdoor. And then another. At first, Mamta was sure there had just been a simple mistake on someone’s listing.
Mamta, 27, said:“A couple arrived and requested to see my property.They asked if they could see inside and made it very clear they wanted to buy. I remember being confused. I informed them that my property was not for sale, and that they had made some error.
“But within a few days, at least a dozen people came to my house, each telling me they had viewed an ad online. As more and more prospective buyers continued to visit, I realised that someone had misrepresented my house.”
Mamta was shocked to discover her home was being advertised for half its market value online. She was also alarmed to realise the fraudster had managed to falsify documentation to create fake deed paperwork as well as the misleading property sale listings.
The criminal was able to make their convincing paperwork by stealing details about Mamta and her life that they collated from public records, social media, and spam mail. Mamta tried to get the ads removed.
She said: “There was scepticism, particularly from the sites that carried the fake ads. I had to present official documents, including my property deed and government identification, to prove my ownership. Fortunately, once I presented this proof, the sites acted and the ads were taken down within 48 hours.”
Mamta’s home is in a sought-after area, known for its good schools, local amenities and transport links. She thinks the scammer listed her property at the too-good-to-be-true value of £395,000 in order to draw immediate attention from unsuspecting house hunters.
She is confident there would have come a point in the scamming process that her ownership rights would have forced the collapse of the sale, but said: “The fraudsters likely intended to accept deposits or charges from unsuspecting buyers rather than selling the property. In most instances, the fraud would have collapsed at the stage of conveyance of title, as my title to the property would have been established. Buyers would, however, have lost significant amounts of money.”
Mamta also took her evidence to the police who she says took her case seriously, but ultimately the person or people behind the fraud proved elusive. They used fake email accounts, fake names, and virtual identities that led investigations to a dead end.
In the UK, HM Land Registry helped prevent fraudulent home sales between 2021 and 2022 worth over £31million after criminals targeted homeowners, like Mamta, to steal the deeds to their property by posing as the homeowner.
Mamta, who works in property herself, said: “Luckily, the scam did not harm my credit rating or my ability to rent or purchase property in the future. However, it was a stressful experience, and I’ve since taken extra precautions to double-check my property records and personal details.”
Sharing her top tips to help others keep their homes safe, she sets out her five-point ringfencing plan. “First, track your property records,” she says, explaining, “It is a good idea to monitor your property’s title to ensure no illegal alterations have occurred. Second, watch for personal information. Spammers create documents using public data and information that is shared on social networks. Avoid posting too much about yourself on the Internet.”
She continues: “My next point is to regularly check property listings. If you find your property is being listed for sale without your authorisation, inform the website owners immediately. Point four is deal with confirmed practitioners. Always verify the genuineness of real estate professionals, lawyers, and officials before you begin any dealings with them.
“And my final point is act fast. If you witness fraud, report it to the parties involved, real estate websites, and a lawyer to rectify the situation before it gets out of hand. To my knowledge, no person has been caught in my case; however, I remain alert in defending my property and warning others.”