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RC's comment below seems to get to the heart of the case:
"This was a straight case of Seller's solicitors (Mary Monson) relying on a dodgy driving licence issued to an address in Catford and a TV Licence for ID. They were found to have complied with the completion Code because in representing that they acted for the seller, that meant "the person who instructed them" not "the actual registered proprietor". By contrast, MdR held the money from Dreamvar on Trust to pay it only to a genuine seller's solicitors. When they paid it to Mary Monson (not solicitors acting for the real registered proprietor) they were in breach of trust. Even though they acted honestly, they were not to be excused liability (although the judge said that if contrary to his decision MM were liable to the purchaser he would have excused MdR to that extent). "

So we need something to guard against this. Some owners without a mortgage already take advantage of the Land Registry service to be notified of actions relating to their property of which they otherwise might not be aware. That is not a major solution here. Insurance of some kind might be wise including against scammers intercepting emails and telling buyers to send money elsewhere too the other big issue.
The date of birth advice below seems good.
Unlikely sellers' solicitors will want to warrant their clients are the true owner although I don't see why it shouldn't in some sense be part of their job to check at least to some extent but then we are not private investigators and some scammers are very very convincing.