Joe Yates
Imagine going on vacation, having the time of your life, and when you return home, you discover that the house you own and have lived in for almost 30 years has been sold without your knowledge.
Okay, it might be pretty specific, but that's the case of Reverend Mike Hall - although, I wouldn't say he had the most amazing time in his getaway to north Wales.
Yes, the member of the Christian clergy had lived in Luton, roughly an hour's drive north of London, since 1990 - but in August 2021, his house sold, having been put up on the market without his knowledge.
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His house fetched $170,180 - a cut price deal for any home that close to the English capital regardless of its state... and if it's been lived in happily by the reverend, then I can't imagine it was grubby.
While enjoying some much-needed time away from work in the sweeping Welsh countryside, Hall was informed by one of his neighbors that the lights were on in his home - and unfortunately, someone was home.
Naturally, the man of God rushed home, where he found the new 'owner' carrying out renovation works to his house - after it was sold without his permission.
Talking to the BBC, Hall said: “I tried my key in the front door, it didn't work and a man opened the front door to me - and the shock of seeing the house completely stripped of furniture, everything was out of the property."
Now, you'd first imagine that someone in his family actually owned the home, his mom or dad for instance, and his siblings sold the property when they heard he packed his bags for vacation - but that is far from the truth.
Brace yourselves, because if you're a homeowner, or even saving up for your own place, you'll have a new fear unlocked.
The transaction was passed at the hands of a fraudster, and there were phone recordings of the scammer to prove it. They managed to convince solicitors that it was their home, and that they simply wanted to put it on the market for a quick sale.
So, what happens then - is Hall out of a home, or are the budding first-time buyers?
Well, after a lengthy battle in court, Hall's name was eventually reinstated as the home owner in the government's records, while the person who bought the property was compensated.
But his battle was far from over, as he discovered that during the two-year court case, squatters had moved into his home, as per the BBC. It is unclear whether this issue has been resolved.