Homebuyers warned of “Friday afternoon fraud” targeting property payments
Criminals are intercepting email exchanges between buyers and solicitors to divert property deposits to fraudulent accounts, a scheme dubbed “Friday afternoon fraud.”
Fraudsters gain access to email threads between homebuyers and their legal or estate representatives, then pose as the solicitor and ask for the deposit to be sent to a controlled bank account. The trick, often called “Friday afternoon fraud,” tends to occur at the end of a sale, timed before a weekend, and can involve large sums because property transactions are high-value. Report Fraud logged 140 property-related scams from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, with victims losing an average of £78,393, while the overall 2025-26 financial year saw 3,657 scams costing £101 million.
The City of London police warn that renters and probate parties have also been targeted. Advice includes avoiding social-media announcements of moves, securing email accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication, confirming bank details in person or by phone, and heeding any bank warnings about mismatched account names.
Why it matters
The scheme can wipe out large property deposits, threatening homebuyers and renters across the UK.
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