This conspiracy theory, gaining traction through social media, is leading a growing number of financially vulnerable people to face serious consequences, including the loss of their homes.

The “freemen on the land” (FOTL) movement propagates the idea that individuals can declare themselves independent of government and the rule of law, adhering only to their own interpretation of “common law,” which they often trace back to Magna Carta. This long-standing but resurgent ideology is being disseminated through online platforms like YouTube and Facebook, where videos and posts attract thousands of followers, The Guardian reports.

Mortgage lenders have reported an increase in borrowers attempting to use these baseless arguments to halt repossession proceedings. The FCA has confirmed that these efforts are entirely unsuccessful in court. “We’re aware of mortgage holders in financial difficulty who are being misled by this online misinformation, often with serious financial consequences,” an FCA spokesperson stated. “If you borrow money, you’re required to repay it, and you only make the situation worse by trying to rely on false arguments which the courts are rejecting.”

The financial regulator highlighted cases where individuals have paid fees to so-called “gurus” to advance their futile legal challenges. The result is often devastating, with homeowners not only losing their property but also any equity they had built up. The housing charity Shelter has also noted a “growing trend of conspiracy theory litigants,” citing a case where a judge dismissed 13 separate claims against various lenders, expressing concern about an “unseen hand” orchestrating the filings.

The same discredited arguments are being used to evade other financial obligations, such as council tax and parking fines. Numerous local authorities, including Thurrock Council, have dedicated sections on their websites to debunking these claims, explicitly stating that “rights claimed under common law, are not the same as laws relating to council tax.”

Experts advise that those facing financial hardship are particularly susceptible to these false promises. Greg Sachrajda, a directorate head at the FCA, cautions that these arguments may “sound better” to those in desperate situations but ultimately lead to greater financial loss.