Estate agent hoax could have been ‘disastrous’

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A legal chief reckons an estate agent with offices in Heywood and Middleton is lucky to have escaped unscathed after it was targeted by a mystery hoaxer.

Police are still on the hunt for the rogue who claimed Ryder & Dutton had gone into liquidation.

The hoaxer sent faxes to more than 500 key clients and institutions alleging the firm was being wound up last week.

The claim was backed up with a falsified document stating a compulsory winding up order had been presented and advertised in the London Gazette.

The hoaxer e-mailed the firm’s key clients with a copy of the notice which proved to be false. North Ainley Halliwell, the legal firm who represent Ryder & Dutton, received a copy of the alleged notice.

Senior partner John Ainley said: “Fortunately, my client’s long standing reputation in the local property market meant most in the business community were sympathetic.

“They also questioned the validity of the announcement. In other cases, it could have had disastrous consequences.

“Greater Manchester Police have been most helpful and hopefully the culprit will be traced and dealt with. However, it may be that the law in this area needs to be looked at again so that commercial sabotage of this nature can be dealt with swiftly and effectively.

“The notice is purely malicious. The grounds for a winding-up petition do not exist and it is business as usual at Ryder & Dutton.”

A Ryder and Dutton spokesman said: “We have received dozens of calls from clients who are totally sympathetic.

“They, like us, are totally amazed by these allegations, which are completely untrue. We are grateful for our clients’ support.”

A police spokeswoman said: “An investigation has been launched.”