Property Title Fraud

Freebird53

AlexMac said:

If Freebird lived anywhere near either of my two (mortgage - free) rental properties, I'd be worried about their seemingly unhealthy interest in a detailed, step-by-step explanation and guide as to how one might go about pulling off this scam!

But I'm OK as
a) they don't know where I live.
b) I've registered for Land Registry alerts, and 
c) the grand-daughter is our tenant in one of them; she's no mug, 6'1"" tall, with an even bigger boyfriend, and might notice if someone hookey came nosing round!

I do hope you are not suggesting anything nefarious on my part?

I don't see it as an 'unhealthy interest' attempting to find out information on something which could affect me. I would suggest to you, that it's more unhealthy to cast aspersions.

Further to that, since this house has been bought since 1990, and is therefore already on the land registry, surely they would contact me as a matter of course, if any suspicious activity were to occur in relation to said property?

RAS

Freebird53 said:

AlexMac said:

If Freebird lived anywhere near either of my two (mortgage - free) rental properties, I'd be worried about their seemingly unhealthy interest in a detailed, step-by-step explanation and guide as to how one might go about pulling off this scam!

But I'm OK as
a) they don't know where I live.
b) I've registered for Land Registry alerts, and 
c) the grand-daughter is our tenant in one of them; she's no mug, 6'1"" tall, with an even bigger boyfriend, and might notice if someone hookey came nosing round!

Further to that, since this house has been bought since 1990, and is therefore already on the land registry, surely they would contact me as a matter of course, if any suspicious activity were to occur in relation to said property?

Err no..... That's precisely the point, the "owners" arrived to find the locks changed and their possessions binned, registration or not.

One factor to bear in mind is that this is an open forum, so other people can use information gleaned to learn how to game things.

user1977

Freebird53 said:

AlexMac said:

If Freebird lived anywhere near either of my two (mortgage - free) rental properties, I'd be worried about their seemingly unhealthy interest in a detailed, step-by-step explanation and guide as to how one might go about pulling off this scam!

But I'm OK as
a) they don't know where I live.
b) I've registered for Land Registry alerts, and 
c) the grand-daughter is our tenant in one of them; she's no mug, 6'1"" tall, with an even bigger boyfriend, and might notice if someone hookey came nosing round!

Further to that, since this house has been bought since 1990, and is therefore already on the land registry, surely they would contact me as a matter of course, if any suspicious activity were to occur in relation to said property?

How would they know whether it was suspicious? HMLR don't know anything about you or what you might fancy doing with your property.

propertyrental

user1977 said:

Freebird53 said:

AlexMac said:

If Freebird lived anywhere near either of my two (mortgage - free) rental properties, I'd be worried about their seemingly unhealthy interest in a detailed, step-by-step explanation and guide as to how one might go about pulling off this scam!

But I'm OK as
a) they don't know where I live.
b) I've registered for Land Registry alerts, and 
c) the grand-daughter is our tenant in one of them; she's no mug, 6'1"" tall, with an even bigger boyfriend, and might notice if someone hookey came nosing round!

Further to that, since this house has been bought since 1990, and is therefore already on the land registry, surely they would contact me as a matter of course, if any suspicious activity were to occur in relation to said property?

How would they know whether it was suspicious? HMLR don't know anything about you or what you might fancy doing with your property.

Plus many people fail to inform the LR that their contact address is different to the property address, so the LR's letter (assuming sent) would never reach the real owner. That simple precaution, along with the Property Alert, is good protection.

AlexMac

Sorry Freebird; 
“ I do hope you are not suggesting anything nefarious on my part?”

not at all; no intention to cast nasturtiums 

i shall henceforth introduce my posts
“ Irony alert “

I hope the many replies to your OP set your mind at ease?  Best wishes

eddddy

Freebird53 said:

After reading a recent article on 'This is Money' regarding this issue, I wondered if somone knowledgable in the area, could give a better explanation of how this could occur.?

Here's a document issued jointly by the Law Society and Land Registry called "Property and title fraud".

Link: https://prdsitecore93.azureedge.net/-/media/files/topics/property/joint-property-and-title-fraud-advice-note-september-2017.pdf

It's actually meant for solicitors - it explains different types of fraud, and the warning signs solicitors should look for. It also briefly mentions some case studies.

Freebird53

Incredible.