One property fraud to be particularly aware of is company impersonation. This is particularly a problem with properties that are owned by overseas companies; the fraudster will then set up a UK company with the same name. Watch out for: 


if the company is incorporated after the registered proprietor is registered as owner of the property: if the date of incorporation of the UK company is after the date of registration of the property in that company’s name, then find out why (the date of registration as proprietor is the date appearing in brackets immediately before the company name in the proprietorship register); 


if there is no Companies House registration number: if there is no company registration number then this may well identify the registered proprietor as being an overseas company (provided it was registered after January 1999). If the proprietor is a foreign company, then a UK company with the same name should raise suspicions. 


For further advice see the Law Society’s updated practice note on Property and Registration Fraud (11 October 2010). See www.lawsociety.org.uk.