One mortgage fraud case recorded in a year
Summary
A Freedom of Information request indicates the FCA opened only one mortgage fraud enforcement investigation in 2025, down from three to four cases a year in previous periods. The article argues this low level of activity may not reflect the true scale of mortgage fraud, which is described as becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect, particularly with the use of AI and digital tools.
Why it matters
Mortgage fraud can affect transaction integrity, lender confidence and the reliability of information used in valuations and conveyancing. Surveyors may need to remain alert to suspicious documentation, identity issues and inconsistencies that could indicate wider fraud risk.
Key points
- FCA recorded one mortgage fraud enforcement investigation in 2025.
- Total FCA mortgage fraud investigations since 2018 now stand at 18.
- Thirdfort says fraud is becoming more global, digital and harder to detect.
- The Home Office Fraud Strategy 2026–2029 is cited as a policy response.
- The article suggests enforcement activity may be lagging behind the scale of the threat.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
