One so-called buyer was only found out after he was overhead boasting about his deception in a Chelsea pub.So why should anyone want to pretend to buy a house? According to Cary Cooper, professor of psychology at UMIST in Manchester, they are delusional either because they have convinced themselves they can buy or they have to save face by keeping going “Such imposters have no self-worth,” he says. “If they weren’t buying houses they would be acting out other roles. At the voyeuristic level, they like going round, say, a movie star’s house to put a bit of glamour into their lives.”Clearly, the attention paid to anyone who looks good for a few million is a great boost to the ego, and celebrity homes have the bogus buyers out in force. “One wanted to buy a pounds 3m house the other a pounds 5m property.

They had very good stories about claiming to be in the media and in Hollywood They both made offers and even instructed UK solicitors. One then disappeared while the other kept finding excuses for not producing a financial reference.”Not unnaturally, vendors left in the lurch take their frustrations out on the agents. It’s a fleeting lifestyle fantasy that is fun while it lasts

For a few, though, pictures are not enough. They contact the agents and present themselves as plausible buyers of expensive properties and then proceed to string everyone along until they can bluff no more.

In parts of America you have to provide proof of wealth before you can look round a high-value home.”It is not surprising that David Forbes would like this to become the practice here. “We cannot turn down someone who appears to be genuine,” says Mr Forbes “We do carry out checks, but there are limits. It is not the culture here to get financial references at this stage and most people would get pretty upset if you did ask. At this point, they usually disappear.
They are quite different from the numerous time-wasters who are merely curious about how the wealthy live or want a few good decorating ideas.