Fraudulent solicitor jailed for mortgage crimes
A bogus solicitor has been sentenced to seven years for committing mortgage fraud of almost £8m. Mohammed Asif Younas was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court for conspiracy to defraud a number of high street banks through fraudulent mortgage applications, as well as conspiracy to money launder.
Younas submitted 33 mortgage applications in the space of two months via the fake solicitors firm Montague Mason Solicitors, and along with other members of his gang submitted paperwork relating to properties across the South East without the homeowners knowledge.
The mortgages were finalised using fake paperwork signed by bogus solicitors and the money, once released, was sent to a number of different bank accounts from the solicitors account and then taken out in cash. The crime was finally discovered when HBOS and Abbey contacted the police to ask them to investigate the solicitors firm, at which point the firm was discovered to be a fake and the mortgage applications all false.
Both Younas and three other members of his gang were apprehended and jailed, all having pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud.
The police warn both lenders and homeowners to be vigilant against mortgage fraud, which is a common crime that affects the economy and those involved. Simply researching a solicitors firm can help to ensure that a fake firm does not either represent you or take lenders for a ride.
As a homeowner make sure you take your time and do not rush into anything to do with mortgages or finances. Check over any contracts thoroughly and research any companies you are involved in. Always consult a lawyer or solicitor when it comes to any paperwork or settlements as the idea of being discovered will cause most fraudsters to get out of the situation as quickly as possible. Never pay anything upfront and don’t sign any contracts until you have had a chance to go through them and have a cooling off period. The longer it takes for a transaction to go through the more nervous this will make anyone attempting to commit mortgage fraud.
For lenders the best advice that can be given is to be to investigate any mortgage applications to the best of their ability and make sure they have a team of solicitors or lawyers on their side to try to put off the less sophisticated scammers. If mortgage fraud does happen to you the best thing to do is to report it immediately and you should be able to get your money back.
Article by: Rebecca Sidwell, Senior Mortgage Consultant at Contractor Mortgages Made Easy
Media Contact: Raman Kaur, Public Relations Manager.
Tel: 0844 44 88 800
Email: media@contractormortgagesuk.com
