Romance fraud on rise in coronavirus lockdown – BBC News
‘Romance fraud – scamming someone out of money by pretending to want a relationship – has been on the rise during lockdown.’
BBC News, 10th February 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: identity fraud
Solicitor duped by ‘fake’ wife fined for failing to check ID – Legal Futures
‘An experienced solicitor has been fined £20,000 for misconduct after being duped into accepting that a woman was who she said she was because he did not require documentary proof.’
Legal Futures, 16th January 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
What Is Voter ID And Is It Discriminatory? – Rights Info
‘The government has announced controversial plans to force voters to bring photo ID with them to the polling station. The move has drawn criticism from MPs and campaigners who believe it will undermine thousands of people’s right to vote. So what is it and what’s at stake? Jodie Satterly explores.’
Rights Info, 16th October 2019
Source: rightsinfo.org
Man who tricked straight men into sex by posing as woman on Tinder jailed – The Independent
‘A man who posed as a woman online to trick would-be suitors into blindfolded sexual encounters at his flat has been jailed.’
The Independent, 10th November 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Left Holding The Baby – Hardwicke Chambers
‘Given the frequency with which sophisticated fraudsters arrange for the sale of properties which they do not own, it is perhaps surprising that the question of who, amongst the professionals involved, bears the risk when it happens has not been considered sooner and more definitively. In 2010 the question came before the Court in Excel Securities PLC v Masood [2010] Lloyds Rep PN 165, but only on a summary judgment application. HHJ Hegarty QC (sitting as a High Court Judge) held that the question of whether a solicitor purporting to act for the owner of a property warranted the identity of his client could not be answered in the abstract, and was not a suitable matter for summary judgment. A warranty of authority is an implied obligation arising as a matter of contract in particular circumstances, so it is not possible to determine the scope of any such warranty without a detailed consideration of the facts. Generally, however, a solicitor’s warranty extends to the fact that he has the authority of the person who has instructed him, but not as to the identity of that person.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 31st July 2018
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
Dreamvar – where do we go from here? – Hardwicke Chambers
‘Who bears the loss when a purchaser agrees to buy a property which isn’t the seller’s to sell? In recent years the courts have had to grapple with the problem caused by “identity fraud”, where a fraudster masquerades as the owner of property, “sells” it to the unsuspecting victim, and then absconds with the money.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 30th June 2018
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
Met dismisses police spy who tricked activist into sexual relationship – The Guardian
‘An undercover officer who had an unauthorised sexual relationship with an environmental campaigner has been dismissed from the police after a disciplinary hearing.’
The Guardian, 3rd May 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
England voter ID trial ‘a solution in search of a problem’ – The Guardian
‘Minister says new requirements counter ‘perception’ of electoral fraud as data shows problem is minimal.’
The Guardian, 29th April 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Voter identity checks may discriminate against ethnic minority communities, watchdog says – The Independent
‘Plans to force voters to show photo identification at polling stations may discriminate against people from ethnic minority communities, the equality watchdog has reportedly warned. The new rules – being trialled to prevent voter fraud – would also hit the young and old, those with disabilities and transgender people, the Equality and Human Rights Commission claims in a leaked letter to Cabinet Office minister David Lidington.’
The Independent, 22nd April 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Organised criminals stealing identities of dead people to get cheaper car insurance – Daily Telegraph
‘Organised criminals and fraudsters are stealing the identities of dead people in order to get cheaper car insurance, it has emerged.’
Daily Telegraph, 24th February 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Websites allowing illegal activity ‘complicit in crime’ – BBC News
‘Websites that do not prevent the sale of illegal goods are complicit in cyber-crime, a crime chief has said.’
BBC News, 23rd October 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Law Society fails in bid to throw out claim by firm over false ‘Find A Solicitor’ entry – Legal Futures
‘The Law Society has failed in its bid to strike out a negligence claim by a law firm that was the victim of a fraud after the details of another firm it had checked on the society’s online “Find a Solicitor” (FAS) facility turned out to be false.’
Legal Futures, 29th August 2017
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
MPs urged to pass law against online ‘catfish’ imposters tricking women into sex – The Independent
‘MPs are to be urged to outlaw the practice of ‘catfishing’, which refers to online predators using fake dating profiles to trick victims into sexual relationships.’
The Independent, 17th July 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Identity fraud reached record levels in 2016 – BBC News
‘Young people are a growing target for identity theft cases, which have reached record levels in 2016, fraud prevention organisation Cifas says. Almost 25,000 victims of fraud were aged under 30, with the number of under-21s defrauded rising by a third.’
BBC News, 15th March 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Law Society may intervene in landmark fraud case – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Court of Appeal will be tasked with offering landmark guidance on the liability of professionals where property is purchased through an ID fraud. The Gazette exclusively revealed last week that City firm Mishcon de Reya faced a £1m payout after its client Dreamvar was duped into buying a London property from a tenant posing as the owner.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 6th February 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Jail again for fraudulent ex-solicitor who hijacked law firm’s identity – Legal Futures
‘An ex-solicitor has been found guilty and jailed for five years for five counts of fraud by false representation – his second spell in jail for fraud after he previously stole from his firm’s client account’
Legal Future, 21st October 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Identity fraud up by 57% as thieves target social media – BBC News
‘The number of victims of identity theft rose by 57% last year, figures from fraud prevention service Cifas suggest.’
BBC News, 5th July 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
