Business · 23 August 2026

Homebuyers warned about rising "Friday afternoon fraud" bank scams

Email scams, also known as "Friday afternoon fraud", trick homebuyers into sending deposit money to criminals instead of their solicitors. Report Fraud, a scam reporting body, noted 140 property cases, where victims typically lost £78,393, from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. City of London police say the fraud also affects renters and probate transactions, not just purchases.

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