Fraud fears

Due to the potential misuse of scanned items available online, documents referred to on the register will now only be available if applied for in writing. Users, however, will still be able to see who owns the title, whether they have a mortgage and who it is with, but not how much it is for or other details that could enable fraudulent actions. Thieves have tricked banks, building societies, solicitors and officials into transferring ownership into their names after using the website to obtain details.

In one incident under investigation, a tenant copied the homeowner's signature to give himself power of attorney. He then took out a £150,000 mortgage, had the money paid into a bogus bank account and disappeared with the cash. The owner knew nothing until he received building society letters warning him that the house was about to be repossessed.

Article on thisismoney.co.uk