Here is the latest update from Pepper Money. You can access Pepper Money products through our direct to lender mortgage club and get the benefits of payment on completion. You can also use our Fees Free Mortgage Packager.
You should be aware that we all have a shared responsibility to prevent and detect fraud – whether you’re a lender, broker, appointed representative, or another introducer.
Fraudulent activity continues to rise across the market, particularly in relation to employment and income verification, and collective vigilance is essential to protect customers, your firm, and the wider industry.
What to look out for
- Inconsistencies on payslips, including rounded deductions, year‑to‑date figures that don’t reconcile, or mismatched employer/employee details.
- Employment from unrecognised “technology” or “IT” firms (e.g. a sparse online presence, generic domains, unverifiable trading history, or contact details that don’t match public listings).
- Employment in the technology or IT sectors, with generic sounding job titles such as “Operations Manager”.
Actions to take on any suspicion
Pause the case and re‑verify information
Cross‑check the employer existence on Companies House, to verify the trading history and registered address.
Deep‑dive income evidence
Reconcile gross/net/YTD figures, ensuring deductions are realistic and consistent.
Obtain supporting evidence (e.g. latest P60 or bank statements) to validate salary credits and pay cycles.
Escalate promptly
Don’t proceed until you’ve re‑verified and discussed your concerns with a senior member of your firm.
Report suspicions through your usual fraud/escalation route.
How lenders are supporting
Lenders are collaborating more closely than ever to share intelligence, identify emerging patterns, and strengthen our collective defences. We encourage our broker partners to do the same within their own organisations. Sharing insights and raising concerns early is vital to tightening controls and helping the industry detect threats quickly.
We’ll continue to provide practical guidance and share relevant insights and knowledge as new threats emerge. Please share this message with your firm.
If something feels off, pause, verify, and escalate.