11/06/2026
Property fraud is always present
What is it?
Property fraud is when someone illegally uses deception to gain control of, sell, or benefit from a property they don’t legitimately own.
In simple terms: it’s fraud involving real estate ownership or transactions.
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🏠 Common types (what it looks like in real life)
1. Identity theft / impersonation
A fraudster pretends to be the property owner and:
* Sells the property without the real owner knowing
* Signs transfer documents using fake ID
2. Title fraud
They illegally transfer ownership into their name, then:
* Sell the property
* Or use it as security for a loan
3. Email hacking / payment redirection
A very common one in conveyancing:
* Criminals hack emails
* Send fake bank details
* Buyers transfer deposit or settlement funds to the wrong account
4. False instructions during settlement
Fake messages or documents are used to alter legitimate transactions.
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⚠️ Why it matters
* People can lose hundreds of thousands of dollars
* Property ownership can be challenged or delayed
* Settlements can fall over last minute
The checks we do are there to stop that happening.
We also never give our account details over email. If you ever receive account details purporting to be from us, please give us a call to report and confirm account details with us direct.