Rowan White

In a statement, the Law Society said it is “aware of reports” about clients losing significant amounts of money after receiving a last-minute and fake email, purportedly from their solicitor, asking them to transfer their deposit money to a new, fraudulent bank account.

In most cases, neither the client nor the solicitor is aware of the fraud until it has been successfully perpetrated, meaning that the money is much more difficult – and often impossible – to recover.

Rowan White, president of the Law Society, said: “Our message to the public, especially those involved in a property transaction, is simple – always call, check and confirm.

“Call the person or solicitor known to you using recognised phone number, check if they sent you an email regarding a last-minute change in bank details and confirm the right bank details with the person. Never transfer your money without checking with all parties concerned.”