Scammers stole my identity, then put my house on the market’, says Mamta Saini
Mamta Saini, a 27-year-old woman living in the UK, was left in shock when strangers started showing up at her doorstep, expressing interest in buying her home. Mamta was bewildered as her property was not listed for sale. Despite her initial confusion, more and more prospective buyers arrived at her house, all claiming to have seen an online ad listing her home for sale. Mamta soon realised that her identity had been stolen, and her house was fraudulently put on the market by scammers.
The criminals had advertised Mamta’s home for sale at half its actual market value online. They had even gone to the extent of creating fake documentation, including deed paperwork, to support the false property listings. The fraudsters had obtained personal information about Mamta from various sources such as public records, social media, and spam mail to craft convincing fake paperwork.
Upon discovering the fraudulent listings, Mamta took immediate action to have them removed. She faced challenges in convincing websites carrying the fake ads to take them down, having to provide official documents like her property deed and government identification to prove her ownership. Fortunately, after presenting the necessary evidence, the fraudulent ads were removed within 48 hours.
It is suspected that the scammers listed Mamta’s property at an enticingly low price of £395,000 to lure unsuspecting buyers quickly. Although Mamta’s ownership rights would have ultimately thwarted the fraudulent sale, the criminals likely intended to pocket deposits or charges from gullible buyers before the scam was exposed during the conveyance of title stage.
Mamta reported the incident to the police, who took her case seriously but struggled to trace the perpetrators behind the scam. The culprits had covered their tracks by using fake email accounts, fake names, and virtual identities, leading investigations to a dead end. In the UK, cases of fraudulent home sales have been on the rise, with criminals targeting homeowners like Mamta to acquire property deeds by posing as legitimate owners.
Fortunately, Mamta’s credit rating and future property transactions were not impacted by the scam. However, she advises others to remain vigilant and safeguard their property records and personal information. Mamta shares her top five tips to protect homes from such scams, including monitoring property records, limiting personal information online, staying alert for unauthorized property listings, verifying real estate professionals, and reporting fraud promptly to relevant parties.
Despite the ordeal, Mamta remains proactive in defending her property and raising awareness about the prevalence of such scams. Her experience serves as a cautionary tale for homeowners to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to secure their properties from fraudulent activities.
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