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Written by rosalind renshaw

All estate agents should beware that conman Keith Fryer appears to be operating again.

Fryer seems to have resurfaced in Herefordshire, this time calling himself Derek Fryer of National Locations, which has the following address: 
National Locations, Property Relocaters, Dept 462, Manchester, M45 0DU.

The name on the letterhead is GK Fryer. The phone number given is 01204 794370 and the fax is 01204 704380.

Although Fryer has now apparently turned up in the Herefordshire area, agents everywhere in the UK should be on the alert.

Fryer’s modus operandi is to put in an offer for a property, saying that he will produce a buyer for it. He then asks for a ‘processing’ fee.  

Fryer has previously traded as Capital Funding and possibly as Equity Relocations. Despite some four years ago being marched by the OFT to the High Court where he had to promise that he will not make misleading representations to home sellers, Fryer has since been spotted in a number of areas, up to his old tricks.  

Fryer, whose previous businesses Unity Investments and Equity Options were wound up by the DTI in 2004, specifically promised the High Court not to mislead sellers into thinking that he has made an unconditional offer on their home, when in fact his offer is conditional on him finding a third party to buy the property.

Fryer then charged sellers a ‘processing fee’ of £392, said to be refundable on completion of the purchase.

However, the OFT said that Fryer had provided no evidence of a sale proceeding to completion.

Friar also had to promise not to say that his business is a company.

However, Friar’s encounter with the High Court does not appear to have stopped him operating the same old sting.

In the latest case, he targeted a reputable independent agent and offered on a property. He then wrote directly to the seller once the offer was accepted, asking for £395 (a slight rise since we last reported on his activities, but that’s inflation for you) as the familiar processing fee.

Fortunately, the seller told the agent and the agent spotted that the fax number was the same as we had previously warned about.

Fryer has served time for a scam in America, and is in his late sixties.

Comments

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    Our estate agents thought it was genuine but luckily we checked it out and didnt pay the £395 fee. It really makes me angry that he is still able to get away with conning people like this.

    • 18 May 2011 17:55 PM
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    Well 17th May 2011 and we have had contact from Derick Fisher....

    Luckily Curiosity got the better of me and I stumbled across this article before returning to National Locations to confirm the deal and fax over a memorandum of sale.

    Highly embarrassing situation avoided. I have circulated a warning email among other independent agents in my area, but just can't seem to find the email addresses for the corporates.... ;-)

    • 17 May 2011 14:27 PM
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    This character has now surfaced in Essex, offering on a couple of properties in the Benfleet area.
    Being old and cynical, thought it was a bit naughty, and googled his name, and found this site.

    All please be aware, the market is difficult enough as it is without this monkey!!

    NB he gave the same address etc PO box no as above listings

    • 13 May 2011 15:59 PM
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    As per many postings on this site, last week Mr D Fisher of NATIONAL LOCATIONS PROPERTY RELOCATORS, PO BOX 462, Post Office Building, Prestwich, Manchester M45 0DU contacted my office, requesting chain-free properties in the Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk area between 120K - 250K in hard copy on behalf of companies relocating employees.

    He has since made sensible offers on two properties - no request for any money but something seemed 'fishy'. Firstly the jpeg scanned offer letters seemed very amateurish and there was no company number and as I have been in this business more years than I care to remember, I thought I would check it out.

    I contacted Manchester Trading Standards to try to verify the company - they could not find the address and postcode! Due to data-protection they could not say anything further.

    I also checked out the company website which also seemed very basic for a company with so many large clients.
    More by good fortune than anything, I came across this site and it appears that we have just avoided a potentially very awkward situation.

    Be aware, this guy is clever and comes across as very plausible.
    Instinct and a hunch, backed up by lousy letterheads and website made me 'smell a rat'

    Thanks to all who have left a posting!

    • 10 May 2011 18:23 PM
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    Please be aware this con man is now operating in the Stoke on Trent area under the name "National Locations." The name on the letter is GK Fryer and he has already conned people into sending him the "processing fee."

    • 17 March 2011 20:34 PM
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    we are glad to see this article. Mr Derek fisher as he said he was called offered on one of our porperties!!!! please watch out.

    • 16 March 2011 16:28 PM
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    I have just had 2 offers come in off this guy he is calling himself derek fisher, thank god i saw this before doing my memos, he is a complete scam merchant,
    Thank you so much for this website
    Kelly stewart
    WiseMove Estate Agents
    0121 453 4344

    • 09 March 2011 10:14 AM
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    Also operating as Dennis Fisher of National Properties.

    • 07 March 2011 11:23 AM
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