Fraud Awareness and Cybercrime Protection
Fraud Awareness and Cybercrime Protection
Important Information for Clients
Property and conveyancing transactions are a frequent target for fraud and cybercrime. Criminals may attempt to intercept communications, impersonate solicitors, estate agents, or clients, and provide false bank details in order to divert funds.
This page explains the steps we take to protect our clients, the steps you must take, and how to recognise and respond to potential fraud.
Common Types of Conveyancing Fraud
Fraud in property transactions often involves:
- Email interception or hacking, where criminals gain access to email accounts and monitor correspondence
- Impersonation emails appearing to come from your solicitor, estate agent, or mortgage lender
- False requests for payment, including last-minute changes to bank account details
- Clone firm scams, where criminals pose as a genuine law firm using similar names or branding
These scams are increasingly sophisticated and may closely resemble genuine communications.
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Our Firm’s Policy on Bank Details
To protect our clients:
- We will never notify you of a change to our bank account details by email, text message, WhatsApp, or via our website
- Our bank details will only be provided in formal documentation or confirmed verbally by telephone
- We will never pressure you to make an urgent or same-day payment without prior discussion
If you receive any communication purporting to change or confirm our bank details, you should treat it as suspicious until verified.
What You Must Do Before Making Any Payment
Before transferring any monies to us or to any third party in connection with your transaction, you must:
1. Telephone our office using a trusted, independently obtained telephone number (for example, from our website or previous correspondence)
2. Speak directly to a member of our conveyancing team
3. Verify the bank details verbally before making any transfer
Do not rely on bank details provided in an email, text message, or attachment, even if the message appears genuine.
Warning Signs of Fraud
Be alert if you receive any communication that:
- Advises of a change to bank details
- Creates a sense of urgency or pressure to act quickly
- Contains unusual wording, spelling errors, or unexpected attachments
- Comes from an email address that differs slightly from previous correspondence
If anything seems unusual, do not proceed with payment until you have spoken to us directly.
If You Suspect Fraud
If you believe you may have received a fraudulent communication, or if you are concerned that funds may have been sent to the wrong account:
- Contact our office immediately by telephone
- If funds have already been transferred, contact your bank without delay
- Prompt action may significantly increase the chances of recovering funds
Responsibility and Risk
We take reasonable and appropriate steps to protect our clients against fraud. However, property transactions carry inherent risks, and cybercrime is constantly evolving.
Failure to follow the verification steps outlined on this page may increase the risk of financial loss. Where loss arises as a result of a failure to follow this advice, we may not be responsible for that loss.
Nothing on this page excludes or limits liability where it cannot lawfully be excluded.
Further Information
Further guidance on conveyancing fraud is available from the Law Society and Action Fraud.
If you have any questions about this information or would like to discuss payment verification procedures, please contact our conveyancing team.
Why Choose Cooper Hall Solicitors?
Business-Focused Expertise
We understand the priorities behind property transactions and tailor our advice accordingly.
Efficiency and Transparency
Expect proactive issue resolution and clear fee structures, ensuring no surprises.
Nationwide Reach
From our Yorkshire and Lancashire offices, we serve clients across England.