How To Protect a Family Member From Scams During a House Move
House moves create a busy, distracted window that scammers exploit — practical steps to keep a relative safe from conveyancing and moving-day fraud.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Moving house involves large financial transfers, multiple new contacts, and high stress — all conditions that scammers actively target. Conveyancing fraud, where the buyer is tricked into transferring their deposit to a scammer's account, is a significant risk. A few simple habits can prevent devastating losses.
Conveyancing fraud: the biggest risk
Scammers intercept or monitor solicitor email chains and send a convincing email appearing to come from the solicitor, with changed bank details for the deposit transfer.
- Always call the solicitor on a number you have independently verified before transferring any money
- Never use bank details sent by email — call to confirm any account change
- Be suspicious of any last-minute change to payment details
- Use a verified number from the solicitor's official website, not from the email itself
Other moving-related scam risks
Beyond conveyancing fraud, house moves create several other scam windows.
- Fake removal companies taking deposits and not showing up
- Fraudulent 'change of address' services that capture all mail
- Utility switching scams disguised as meter readings or service offers
- Rental deposit scams if the relative is renting rather than buying
Building in verification habits
The key protection is slowing down any financial transaction until a second pair of eyes can check it.
- Agree: any payment over [amount] requires a call to you before transfer
- Verify removal companies on review sites and confirm bookings in writing
- Use the Royal Mail redirection service and check the official website for the link
- Register the new address with financial institutions promptly to close the mail-interception window
Conversation script
“Moving involves some big transfers — can we agree that before you send any money to the solicitor, you give me a quick call so we can double-check the bank details together?”
“The solicitor's account details should never change by email. If you get an email saying the details have changed, that's a big red flag — call the solicitor directly.”
“I've read about people losing their deposits this way. It's nothing to do with you being careful — it's just a really specific thing to watch for during a move.”
Frequently asked questions
What is conveyancing fraud and how common is it?
Conveyancing fraud occurs when a scammer intercepts the email communication between a buyer and their solicitor and sends a fake email asking the buyer to transfer their deposit to a different account. It is a significant and growing risk in property transactions, and deposits are often irrecoverable once sent to a fraudulent account.
Should my relative check with me before every payment during a move?
For large transfers such as the deposit or completion payment — yes, absolutely. For small day-to-day moving costs, normal judgement applies. The key is to be particularly vigilant for any email instruction to transfer a large sum or to use new bank details.