Compliance
Lawyer Checker
Friday afternoon fraud is still the single largest source of loss in conveyancing. A check that takes a minute is the cheapest control you will ever put in place.
What it is
What this search covers
The fraud is simple and effective. An email purporting to come from the other side's firm notifies a change of bank details shortly before completion. Funds are sent, and they are gone within minutes.
Lawyer Checker verifies the destination account against a database of accounts that have previously been used to receive completion monies in genuine transactions. An account with a long history is reassuring; an account with none is a reason to stop and telephone a number you have independently verified.
It does not replace your own controls. It supplements them, and it gives the file a record that the check was carried out.
Included in the report
- Verification of the receiving account against historic transaction data
- Account transaction history profile
- Firm identity confirmation
- Result recorded for the file
At a glance
| Turnaround | Varies by property, authority and provider. We give you a realistic timescale when you order — and we work to beat it. |
|---|---|
| Format | On-screen and PDF result showing the account's transaction history profile |
| Who orders it | Every firm transferring completion monies to another party's account |
| Category | Compliance |
Why it matters
What goes wrong without it
The loss usually falls on the firm
Where funds are misdirected, recovering them is rare and professional indemnity consequences follow. Prevention is the only reliable strategy.
Never verify a change of details by replying to the email
If the email account is compromised, the reply goes to the fraudster. Telephone a number obtained independently — from the Law Society's Find a Solicitor, not from the email footer.
Questions
Lawyer Checker — your questions
Does a positive result guarantee the account is genuine?
No. It is a strong indicator, not a guarantee, and it should sit alongside independent telephone verification and your firm's own controls.
What should we do if an account has no history?
Stop. Telephone the firm on an independently verified number and confirm the details verbally before sending anything.
Need this search on a property today?
Send us the address. We will tell you what it needs, what it costs and how long it will take.
Or call 0151 652 4184 — telephone support seven days a week