Don’t Let Fraudsters Steal Your House Deposit!
Imagine this: you’ve spent years saving up for your dream home, and now you’re finally ready to transfer your deposit — often tens of thousands of pounds — to your solicitor to seal the deal. Then, you get an email that looks completely legitimate, supposedly from your solicitor, giving you the bank details to make the transfer.
You send the money… only to get a call from your actual solicitor days later, asking where the funds are. After some confusion, it hits you — someone hacked into your email or theirs, learned about your house purchase, and sent a fake email that looked exactly like the real thing. The bank details were fake. The money’s gone.
Sadly, this kind of scam — known as an invoice or mandate fraud — is all too common. Criminals watch for moments when people are likely to send large payments, like during a home purchase, and then swoop in pretending to be someone you trust: a solicitor, builder, or contractor.
In 2019 alone, people lost an estimated £114 million to scams like this — and only about 28% of that money was ever recovered.
Stay alert and always double-check payment details before sending any large sums!
How to protect yourself from invoice scams
Don't immediately send money
Before sending any money — especially large sums like a house deposit — always double-check where it’s going. Invoice fraud is when criminals intercept or spoof emails to trick you into sending money to the wrong account. They often pose as solicitors or other trusted contacts, sending fake but convincing payment instructions. Always verify any payment details directly with your solicitor by phone or in person before transferring funds. A quick check could save you from losing your life savings.
Call their trusted number
If you receive an email asking you to transfer money — especially for something big like a house deposit — don’t act on it straight away. Fraudsters can hack or spoof emails to make payment requests look completely genuine. Before sending any funds, call your solicitor using a number you know is correct — not one from the email — to confirm the details. Taking a moment to verify could protect you from losing thousands to a scam.
Pay small amounts and check
To protect yourself from payment fraud, consider first sending a small test amount and confirming it’s been received by the correct person before transferring the full sum. Scammers can create emails that look exactly like your solicitor’s, complete with fake bank details. By verifying a small payment first — ideally by speaking directly to your solicitor on a trusted number — you reduce the risk of losing your full deposit to fraud.
Check payment details
Always double-check payment details before transferring large sums of money, especially during something as important as a house purchase. Even the smallest difference in account details could mean your money ends up in the wrong hands. Always confirm payment instructions by calling your solicitor on a trusted number — never rely solely on email.