New warnings have been issued about fraudster conveyancing firms and the dangers posed to buyers sending off their purchase funds.

It is believed there are at least 1,400 criminal gangs trying to steal mortgage advances.

Last night, the programme Fake Britain highlighted the bogus legal firm Acorn Solicitors which robbed buyers of their entire purchase money after they unwittingly bought a property in process of being repossessed.

The case also implies the care that agents should ideally take in checking out legal firms acting for sellers and buyers.

While there has never been any suggestion that the agents concerned in this particular case were in any way negligent, it is thought this could raise considerations in the legally untested waters of the  Consumer Protection Regulations (CPRs) landscape.

In 2010, Nick Christofi was buying what he thought was his dream house in the midlands, via reputable NAEA and ARLA estate agents Sean Heaney.

He paid £735,000 to the seller’s solicitors, Acorn, in Rotherham. It turned out to be an entirely fictitious firm.

At the time, his own solicitor denied negligence and the Solicitors Regulation Authority apparently kept Acorn Solicitors listed on its Find A Solicitor website for six weeks after being informed it was a criminal fraud.

According to reports at the time, Christofi’s lawyers were put in touch with Acorn Solicitors, acting for the seller, through the agents.

The deal to buy the property was completed within three weeks. But shortly after, Christofi was served with a notice of eviction.

It turned out that the house they had unwittingly bought was actually in the process of being repossessed.

Last night’s programme said that Christofi’s claim for compensation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority had been rejected, but that he had come to an out of court settlement with his own solicitors, which had delivered him two-thirds of the money he had lost.

The SRA told the programme that it regulated solicitors, and not criminals, and therefore people with complaints should go to the police.

The programme also said the scam had been simple to carry out: criminals – still not caught by police – had found the name of a genuine, retired, solicitor online. They had effectively changed this solicitor’s ID, telling the SRA that he was setting up a new firm.

This firm appeared on the SRA’s website without, the programme alleged, any checks.

It was also claimed that other cases were involved.

Acorn Solicitors has no connection with other legal firms or any estate agents with similar names.

Two years ago, in 2012, the Solicitors Regulation Authority issued 20 alerts relating to criminals impersonating legitimate firms.

Last night’s programme suggested that several cases relating to the scam were under way and that every possible check on legal firms should be made, including personal recommendations.

It also warned that because home buying transactions involve big ticket money, they are particular targets for criminals.