Guardian request: Case study for property fraud

The Guardian are looking for a case study for the below story, has it happened to you or do you know anyone it happened to who would be happy to speak to the paper?

Fraudsters stealing an owner's identity, posing as them, and trying to sell or remortgage the home without the owner ever knowing. 

HM Land Registry blocked fraudulent applications against more than £59 million of property in 2024-25 alone, and over £194 million in the last five years. 

Around 86% of victims are "absent owners" such as landlords, people living abroad and elderly owners in care. 

The favourite target is a mortgage-free home, because there is no lender doing any checks.

Cifas, a fraud prevention service, recorded more than 242,000 identity fraud cases in 2025, over half of all fraud reported, now made easier by AI-generated fake documents. 

The same stolen identity that opens a loan in someone's name can be turned on their house.

Let us know if someone is happy to speak.