12/23/25

These days, AI-powered fraud is one of the biggest threats facing real estate professionals. Just like many of us, they’re using ChatGPT to streamline their work and do things faster. The difference is we’re doing it for good. Cybercriminals are not. Here are four ways scammers are utilizing AI, along with strategies to protect yourself and your clients.

Voice cloning and other audio tricks. With just a few seconds of someone’s voice, scammers can clone how someone talks. That means a fraudster could sound exactly like a trusted lender, real estate agent or other trusted party personally asking you to change wire instructions. Please make sure your clients know to be as skeptical of calls from unknown numbers as they are of unsolicited emails. We should all remember to verify information from a phone call before acting on it if it seems suspicious in any way.

Deepfakes and forged documents. AI tools can create convincing fake documents that look official and generate deepfake videos or images for virtual meetings. In one real case, an impersonator in a video call was caught only when she failed to follow a simple request that would not have fooled a real person. How can we combat this? By knowing that AI has infiltrated video calls, and adding challenge steps during a video call, especially if something doesn’t feel quite right.

Fake buyers and sellers. AI makes it easy for bad actors to build entire fake personas, complete with social media accounts and professional backstories. These “buyers” or “sellers” often rush transactions and attempt to bypass normal verification processes. All of this is done in the hope of a quick sale to sneak something past before they’re caught.

As we’ve written before in pieces on the seller impersonation scam, verifying that a new client is who they claim to be is a crucial step today to ensure you aren’t being duped. Don’t be afraid to require a camera-on video call or a second form of ID to alleviate any identification fears. Additionally, if you have any concerns that someone isn’t legitimate, please notify your local branch.

Smarter phishing and better attack emails. Phishing emails are one of the oldest tricks in the scammer’s handbook. However, AI enables the creation of more convincing and authentic-looking messages. They may include real client data, proper formatting and added context that makes them hard to spot. In other words, the days of scammers making typos or using bad grammar and clearly templated messages are over.

So, what can we do to stay ahead?

AI is making scams faster and more believable, but staying vigilant is still your best defense. Here are the steps you can take today. After all, talking about cybersecurity is one thing, but our teams are here to provide you with solutions, too. That’s why we’re ending this blog with these tips.

• Standardize secure communication. Don’t send wiring details through email, and make sure your clients know how their closing should work. Plus, remind them multiple times that last-minute changes to how or where money is sent are rare (and should be treated as an immediate red flag).
• Invest in training. Walk your team through real-world fraud examples and encourage verification over assumption.
• Talk to your vendors – including us! Ask how your providers guard against AI-based attacks. As one of your partners, your local branch has invested in tools and resources to ensure your transactions are more secure. Ask us how you can up your defenses today.

Make it your mission to keep talking about fraud with your clients, and let’s all be a little extra aware that scammers are still targeting real estate transactions everywhere. No matter how much smarter they get, we can all stay a step ahead of them if we work together. Just remember, if something seems off, it probably is.