National Hunter

Author: Richard Moring - Published: 13th April 2023

Not many people have heard of National Hunter which is a British credit fraud checking agency that operates an “anti-fraud data sharing system”. It is operated on behalf of its members, around 90 British financial institutions, including banks, building societies, mortgage lenders and finance companies. Information entered by applicants for credit within one of the member organisations is recorded in the system, and can be cross-checked against other applications.

For instance, a person applying for a loan or mortgage with one company and stating their salary as £10,000 could have their application rejected if in a subsequent application for a different product from a different company then stated their salary as £100,000. The process is not fully automated in the way most credit scoring is but suspicious applications are flagged by National Hunter and then checked before an institution makes the decision whether to decline an application.

In this blog, we’ll explore how National Hunter works, how the face of 2025 mortgage scams has evolved, and how to protect yourself when buying a home.

How Does National Hunter Work?

National Hunter is a not-for-profit organisation, owned by its members. It processes more than 20 million applications per year through over 100 separate data feeds.

Its core business sectors include:

Mortgages
Current accounts
Credit cards
Unsecured loans
Motor & asset finance
Commercial finance
Merchant services
Savings

The way in which the system works is that one of their members will submit application data to National Hunter, and their system will match this data against other members' applications based on a number of system rules. These rules help determine whether the information contained within the application is accurate, by cross-matching against other applications in order to spot commonalities or anomalies that are potentially indicative of fraud. If anomalies are spotted then this will be flagged for further investigation.

The system was set up in 1993, by MCL Software of Southport, Merseyside, now an Experian subsidiary. National Hunter is often described as the UK’s secret credit reference agency due to the fact that it doesn’t advertise its true address or list a phone number where they can be contacted. There is also no email address leaving the only way to reach them being a good old-fashioned letter.

Red Flags to Look Out for When Applying for a Mortgage

Even with National Hunter and other mortgage fraud prevention systems in place, buyers still need to stay alert. Some warning signs to look out for include:

“Too good to be true” deals:

Unrealistically low prices or rushed offers often indicate scams.

Fake brokers or solicitors:

Always confirm their registration with the Financial Conduct Authority or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Unverifiable bank details:

Never transfer money without verifying details over the phone using trusted contact numbers.

How to Protect Yourself

Here are three essential mortgage safety tips for 2025:

Use FCA-authorised advisers:

An authorised, independent mortgage broker will always verify lenders and processes for you.

Double-check account details:

Before sending deposits or fees, confirm account details directly with your solicitor or lender.

Recognise legitimate verification systems:

A genuine National Hunter check is part of a responsible lender’s due diligence, not a red flag.

Trust RM Mortgage Solutions for the Security You Deserve

Here at RM Mortgage Solutions, we know that buying or remortgaging a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. That’s why we take UK housing fraud seriously.

Our independent mortgage advisors in Birmingham and across the West Midlands work only with verified lenders, carry out all necessary checks, and educates clients on how to stay safe.

If you’re concerned about 2025 mortgage scams or want help understanding how to protect yourself from housing fraud in the UK, we’re here to help.

Give us a call on 0121 468 3322 or get in touch online to secure your mortgage with the upmost confidence.

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