Mortgage Fraud UK: What It Is, Real Figures, and How to Report It

Mortgage fraud covers a range of activity, from a borrower misrepresenting their income on an application to organised property title fraud, and recent data suggests enforcement action has not kept pace with the scale of the problem in the UK.

What counts as mortgage fraud

Mortgage fraud broadly falls into two categories. Fraud for housing involves a borrower misrepresenting information, income, employment status, existing debts, or intent to occupy a property, to qualify for a mortgage they would not otherwise be eligible for. Fraud for profit typically involves industry insiders or organised groups manipulating the mortgage process itself, including inflated property valuations, forged documentation, or straw buyer schemes designed to extract cash or equity from lenders. Property and title fraud, where a fraudster impersonates a homeowner to sell or remortgage a property without the genuine owner's knowledge, is a further distinct and increasingly reported category.

How much mortgage fraud is actually happening

Freedom of Information data obtained by client due diligence platform Thirdfort shows the FCA opened just 1 enforcement investigation into mortgage fraud in 2025, down from 3 in 2024, and a total of 18 since 2018. Investigations peaked at 5 in 2019, dropped to none in 2020 and 2021, and have run at 3 to 4 per year since, until the sharp fall in 2025.

This enforcement trend sits alongside evidence that the underlying problem is not shrinking. UK Finance industry data put total UK fraud losses at approximately £1.17 billion in 2023, with mortgage fraud identified as a growing area within that figure. Cifas's Fraudscape 2026 report found that 1 in 6 UK adults admit to, or know someone who has, misled a lender to secure a mortgage, and flagged AI-enabled document forgery and synthetic identity fraud as making detection significantly harder across lending products generally. HM Land Registry separately recorded 55 property title fraud cases between April 2025 and March 2026, where fraudsters attempt to sell, remortgage, or transfer ownership of a property using forged documents without the genuine owner's knowledge.

Who investigates mortgage fraud in the UK

The FCA is one part of a wider enforcement picture, not the sole body responsible. The Serious Fraud Office, the National Crime Agency, and local police forces all play a role depending on the scale and nature of a case. The FCA also operates an Information from Lenders scheme, allowing mortgage lenders to report suspected fraudulent brokers directly, and a separate Information from Brokers channel covering wider suspicious activity in the sector.

How to protect yourself from property title fraud

HM Land Registry offers a free Property Alert service that notifies registered owners of any activity on their property's title, such as a mortgage or transfer application, which can provide early warning if someone attempts to defraud you using your property. This is particularly relevant for owners of mortgage-free properties, rental properties, or empty homes, which are more commonly targeted since there is no lender routinely monitoring the property.

How to report suspected mortgage fraud

Suspected mortgage fraud should be reported to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre, either online or by phone. If you are a mortgage lender or broker with information about suspected fraud by an intermediary, the FCA's Information from Lenders and Information from Brokers schemes provide a direct reporting channel. If you believe you have been targeted by property title fraud specifically, HM Land Registry should be contacted directly in addition to Action Fraud.

What is the most common type of mortgage fraud?

Fraud for housing, where a borrower misrepresents income, employment, or existing debts on a mortgage application, is generally considered the most common form, though property title fraud and fraud-for-profit schemes involving industry insiders are also significant categories.

How many mortgage fraud investigations does the FCA open each year?

According to Freedom of Information data, the FCA opened 18 mortgage fraud enforcement investigations in total between 2018 and 2025, with the number falling to just 1 in 2025.

Where do I report suspected mortgage fraud?

Report suspected mortgage fraud to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting centre. If it involves suspected fraud by a broker or lender, the FCA's Information from Lenders and Information from Brokers schemes provide additional reporting routes.

How can I protect my property from title fraud?

HM Land Registry offers a free Property Alert service that notifies you of activity on your property's title, providing an early warning if someone attempts to sell, remortgage, or transfer your property fraudulently.

Is mortgage fraud increasing in the UK?

Industry data suggests it is. Experian's Q4 2025 Fraud Index found mortgages were the only lending product to record a fraud increase in the period, while FCA enforcement investigations have fallen, a gap that has raised concern among fraud prevention specialists about whether enforcement is keeping pace with the underlying problem.

Last reviewed: 7 July 2026