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London estate agents Benham & Reeves said they were identifying a plethora of fraud, ranging from false ID documents to undeclared County Court Judgments (CCJs).
Multiple applications from different tenants had suspicious similarities, including identical email formats and swapped recommenders. The recommendations were all found to be fake, prompting police to get involved.
Another fraudulent lawyer forged bank statements citing a gambling problem. The applicant also provided fake landlord details to hide arrears on his current lease.
In the past month, Benham has seen eight false passports or identity cards, 40 digitally altered bank statements, utility bills, pay slips and proof of address, 50 false employment certificates and 30 undeclared county court records.
Mark von Grundherr, director at Benham & Reeves, said: “The rental market has become a prime target for fraudsters due to the ability to quickly generate illicit profits in a short space of time, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in London, where demand is high and rental prices are among the highest.”
“Landlords themselves need to be vigilant, but even more so, it’s the role of real estate agents to provide a vital line of defense that technology alone can’t maintain.”
Other fraud cases involved fake applications from employees of a media company who, through falsified bank statements, forged pay slips and withheld addresses, were linked to newly established rental entities that may have been involved in illegal activities.
Meanwhile, an alleged art dealer with an undisclosed CCJ of £12,151 was found to have falsified bank statements and fallen into arrears on undisclosed rental payments whilst claiming for Universal Credit.
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