Very strange case

If they paid it off there will be records of how they paid it off, traces of income/expenditure records to prove it and a paper trail of money somewhere..... unless it’s from a source that is unwarranted and possibly criminal..... even then there will be deposit slips/records.
As you say, something not quite right about the case, more to it than we see, possibly an endowment policy at the root of it.

A known scam at present.

Hackers intercept solicitors and banks email accounts.

They follow it and step in when money is about change hands. Send to this account and sort code. Unknown to all untill it's too late.

Always send a £1 first and then ring to confirm receipt.

Funny they have gone 'missing' before. Might be more to this

Standard practice in our house if transferring money for the first time. My eldest daughter was married last year. They are working on a 5 year contract in Sydney, so presents tended to be money rather than physical items which would incur expensive postal charges.

I made sure everyone transferred £1 and had an acknowledgement from the daughter before any one sent larger amounts. It meant the money was safe and my daughter could keep an eye on the account to ensure safe deposit and thank the donors.

Look at what can also happen if you get a digit wrong in a transfer.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne…-code.html

Lots of cases like this and there was a rash of the scams ally mentioned about 2 years back.

Davy

Was it not "to gain media interest" ? I think I read that in the article.

no. they said they had been actively seeking media attention but didnt actually say this is why they went missing... for the 2nd time. While i have sympathy with anyone fighting against the banks (who are vultures,) to keep their homes, i think they should be charged with wasting police time.

Was it not "to gain media interest" ? I think I read that in the article.
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no. they said they had been actively seeking media attention but didn't actually say this is why they went missing... for the 2nd time. While I have sympathy for anyone fighting against the banks (who are vultures,) to keep their homes, I think they should be charged with wasting police time.
[/quote]

A whole lot of unanswered questions.

Who reported them missing?
Pulling the same stunt twice without being made to explain what they are at,
Are they mental cases walking away from a BMW with the keys left in it.
How did they pay for the house, cash ( where did they get it) Morgage ( where are the details of the protection policy ) when did they buy it, who did they buy it from, where is the previous owner or their family, Have they been paying utility bills, did they take out home insurance,

Once again WE All pay the bills for their stupidity

In a time when if you accidentally set your Chimily on firs you will get a bill a pair of Gobshites like this walk away.