In any transaction
affecting land, be it a sale
or a purchase or establishing
a mortgage over land, it is
important to confirm the
identity of the parties
involved in the transaction.
To ensure you don’t become a
victim of identity fraud when
dealing with land, it is
recommended that stringent
processes be adopted in
verifying the identity of
person(s) claiming a right to
deal with the land.
How do I verify a
person’s
identity?
Ask to see at least three
documents, one of which
should include both photo
identification and the
person’s signature. The
documents should be
originals: do not accept
photocopies or faxed
documents as proof of
identity.
Possession of a Certificate
of Title for a parcel of land
is not of itself sufficient
to prove that a person is the
owner of that land or is
otherwise entitled to deal
with it. The increasing
incidence of identity theft
and associated fraud,
including mortgage fraud
means that all parties to
land transactions and their
agents must exercise due
diligence in verifying the
identity of persons claiming
a right to deal in land.
More information about
identity theft and strategies
for limiting its impact is
available from the Australian
Crime Commission
www.crimecommission.gov.au/html/pg_publications.html
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