By: Elyce Schweitzer, 星空传媒 星空传媒 Regulatory Compliance Officer

Artificial intelligence has made fraud more convincing and more difficult to spot. As we explored in our earlier piece on deepfake-enabled fraud, today鈥檚 bad actors can impersonate real parties, voices, and documents with a level of sophistication that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.

In response, lawmakers and regulators are strengthening the legal tools available to prosecutors, civil enforcers, and courts. These developments don鈥檛 rewrite core fraud principles, but they do change how those principles apply to real estate closings 鈥� and they reinforce the value of careful verification.

Understanding this evolving landscape helps explain why it鈥檚 so important to Verify, Then trust 鈥� every file, every party, every time.  

Fraud and Impersonation: Statutory Tools That Matter

States are updating their criminal and civil fraud statutes to make it clearer that impersonation using modern technology is not a technical loophole but a prosecutable offense.

For example, in Texas, (effective September 1, 2025) amended Chapter 32 of the Texas Penal Code by adding Sections 32.56 and 32.57. Section 32.56 makes it an offense, with intent to enter or remain on real property, to knowingly present to another person a false, fraudulent, or fictitious document purporting to be a lease agreement, deed, or other instrument conveying real property or an interest in real property. Section 32.57 makes it a first-degree felony to knowingly list, advertise, sell, rent, or lease residential real property without legal title or authority.

In practice, these sections clarify that impersonation involving falsified property documents constitutes fraud, even when the deception relies on digital or AI-assisted tools. Notably for title agents, when such cases are investigated or litigated, the analysis may extend beyond the fraudulent act itself to examine how the transaction progressed, including what steps were taken to confirm identity and authority before reliance occurred.

The Role of Notarization and Remote Online Notarization

Notarization has become a critical built-in safety mechanism for property transactions. States that authorize Remote Online Notarization (RON) typically require defined identity-verification procedures, which may include multi-factor authentication, recorded sessions, and retained audit logs.

These requirements do more than check a box. They create layers of verification that are observable after the fact. When fraud does occur, prosecutors, judges, and civil litigants may scrutinize whether these verification layers were followed.

In other words, notarization statutes don鈥檛 replace professional diligence 鈥� but they codify expectations for how identity and intent should be confirmed and documented.

Expanding Definitions of Deceptive Communication

Other states have updated their fraud laws to explicitly cover realistic representations made with advanced technologies. , effective April 2, 2025, defines 鈥渄eceptive audio or visual media鈥� as the use of highly realistic representations of speech, conduct, or writing where the subject did not actually engage in that conduct. The statute criminalizes generating, soliciting, disclosing, or using deceptive audio or visual media for the purpose of attempting or furthering the commission of a crime or offense, or with knowledge it will be used for that purpose.

takes a broader approach by recognizing that sophisticated communications techniques, including those enabled by technology, play a central role in modern fraud schemes. The statute consolidates fraud and organized fraud offenses, aligns state law with federal mail and wire fraud precedents, and includes enhanced penalties for certain first-degree felony offenses. It also provides civil remedies related to identity misuse and sets limitation periods and tolling rules that account for defendants who are absent from the state or lack an ascertainable address.

These statutory definitions reinforce something title professionals already know from experience: fraud is not defined by medium but by intent and effect. A voice message, video call, or carefully worded email can be just as fraudulent as a forged signature on paper. What matters is whether it induces action based on false representations.

Federal Reporting and Awareness Efforts

At the federal level, activity has focused on understanding and reporting on the risks associated with AI technologies. For example, legislation passed in connection with the 2021 星空传媒 Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) the Department of Homeland Security to produce annual reports on digital content forgery technology. 鈥� the core technology behind deepfakes.

For those of you who enjoy reading more technical material, the is available for your enjoyment.  A review of the report makes it clear that the technology and its potential for harm to our industry is complicated.

These federal efforts help catalog the risks and raise awareness across industries, but they do not change state criminal or civil liability in property transactions. Instead, they improve the information environment in which professionals and regulators operate.

What This Means for Title Professionals

When closings are reviewed after fraud occurs, the focus will likely shift to whether steps were taken to verify identity, authority, and intent, and whether those steps were reasonable under the circumstances. This reflects how fraud is often evaluated after the fact: technology may enable new methods of deception, but it does not change the underlying wisdom: Verify, Then Trust before acting.

The Bottom Line

Regulatory and statutory changes are not abstract developments. They reflect how lawmakers and enforcers are applying long-established fraud principles to modern threats.

Deepfakes and AI-enabled impersonation present real risks in real estate transactions. The truth is, when fraud is investigated or litigated, attention will likely shift beyond the technology itself to how the transaction unfolded, including whether identity and authority were meaningfully confirmed before reliance occurred.

For agents who incorporate verification as a routine part of their workflow, 鈥淰erify, Then Trust鈥� functions as a practical risk-management framework. It aligns with the way fraud is examined after the fact and supports defensible decision-making when transactions are questioned. Applied consistently, this approach helps protect the transaction, the parties involved, and the professionals responsible for bringing the deal to completion.

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By Mauri Hawkins, Chief Claims Counsel, 星空传媒

Title pros know that fraud is a big problem in our industry, but the available data is still eye-popping. In 2024, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) reported that fraud and forgery claim costs averaged over $143,000 per incident.[i] Such losses can significantly impact a typical agency鈥檚 business, which makes prevention your best defense. To help, we鈥檝e outlined 2026鈥檚 top fraud threats as well as strategies for spotting them early and protecting every file, every party, every day.

Why redouble our focus on fraud in 2026?

Fraud in 2026 harms businesses in a way that goes beyond dollars and cents. Fraud can also inflict major reputational damage, leading to lost referrals and, quite possibly, the closure of your business itself. In short, fraud and forgery can derail your company鈥檚 goals and prospects in both the short and long term. These serious consequences highlight why we must scrutinize the details of every file that comes across our desks鈥攑articularly from the insidious schemes we will explore below.

Seller impersonation is a danger

First up is seller impersonation. Increasingly common, seller impersonators pose as property owners and sell properties out from under the real owners without their even knowing. Given how widespread it has become, agents must never eyeball ID documents. ID-verification tools must be used on every file, every party, every day instead. Agents must also take time to scrutinize notary seals and the notaries themselves. When possible, avoid mail-away closings and use a reputable remote online notarization (RON) provider. Also, validate IDs at the time you receive an order, as this helps stop fraud in its tracks! And finally, educate your real estate agents, lenders and consumers on the very real risk of losing their money.

Vacant land sales pose a real threat

Vacant land remains another top fraud target in 2026. It is driving a huge share of claims nationwide and can get wildly expensive.

To cut down on these claims, ID-verification tools are again your best friend. Apply them to every file at the beginning of each order. That way, you can properly verify the parties involved and not waste time on bogus deals.

You should also always contact vested owners at a trusted address, whether by email or by mail, to confirm the sale. Finally, stay on guard for red flags like recent address changes or sudden changes to entity information located in the Secretary of State records. Those are go-to moves that sophisticated fraudsters love to deploy.

Fight back against payoff fraud

At 星空传媒 星空传媒, we are also seeing a sharp rise in payoff fraud. These involve bad actors injecting themselves into the payoff process and rerouting funds away from the real lender or servicer and into their own bank accounts. Fraudsters have gotten good at compromising payoff mechanisms鈥攆rom email to fax. Given that, the principle of Verify, Then Trust matters more than ever before.

Some best practices to remember include:

• Never accept payoff info from a party to the transaction.
• Prior to sending funds, confirm with the lender, using independently verified contact information, the wire information or payment address.
• Follow the verified lender instructions exactly and double-check payment details before disbursing.
• Treat any last-minute changes or 鈥渘ew鈥� payoff directions as a major red flag, and contact the lender directly at the independently verified contact information before taking any further action.

For more best practices, managers should review  on handling payoffs securely and share it with their agents.

Staying cyber smart

No conversation about fraud in 2026 would be complete without touching upon cybersecurity concerns, particularly from phishing emails. Cyberattacks are one of the most common ways fraudsters can attack our industry. In fact, data reveals that over $16 billion in losses resulted from cybersecurity issues alone.[ii]

The silver lining is that we have a powerful way to prevent cybercrime and stem these losses. The numbers show that one of the most consistent reasons why a cyberattack is successful has to do with human error. Implementing security awareness training for your agency can reduce the likelihood of a fraudster pulling a fast one by 70-90%.[iii]

Strong cyber insurance is also essential for agencies to protect themselves from fraudsters. Review your policy鈥檚 terms and conditions thoroughly, institute processes and procedures for the team to follow in each transaction, and document each file with the actions taken to show that the processes and procedures were followed. This is highly important for when a claim is made under the cyber insurance policy.

You have a partner in the fight against fraud

At 星空传媒 星空传媒, we鈥檙e here to support you in the fight against fraudsters. We have resources that can help:

• 星空传媒 星空传媒 Crime Watch Program: If an 星空传媒 星空传媒 agent鈥檚 employee spots and prevents possible fraud, agency management can nominate that employee to receive an award. Find more information here about the program.
• The 星空传媒 星空传媒 Fraud Prevention Tips: Find handy best practices for spotting and stopping fraud with this tip sheet.
• ID Verification Tools: Explore today鈥檚 top platforms and make sure your team is trained on the right policies and best practices. 星空传媒 星空传媒 agents, for example, 鈥攁 leading identity verification provider.

You鈥檙e ready to face fraudsters

Armed with these tools and knowledge of 2026鈥檚 top fraud threats, you鈥檙e ready to spot bad actors and act before a scheme escalates into a loss.  Just remember to never take anything at face value and to verify before you ever extend your trust. By approaching your files with the mantra of 鈥淰erify, Then Trust鈥� in mind, you can rest easy knowing you鈥檝e protected every file, every party, every day.  

[i]

[ii]

[iii]

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By Adam Mohrbacher

From the rolling hills of Missouri to the coastal plains of Florida, fraud continues to threaten real estate transactions across the country. In response, an increasing number of 星空传媒 星空传媒 agents are answering the call to help identify and stop fraudulent activity. Over the years, these agents have prevented dozens of fraudulent transactions from moving forward, saving millions of dollars in proposed liability. Here, we take a closer look at fraud prevention efforts from the past year, as well as the agencies recognized through 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Crime Watch program.

A problem with a massive scope

Not that anyone really doubts it, but the data continues to confirm that real estate fraud in the United States is pervasive. ALTA鈥檚 2025 Cybercrime Study, for example, showed that over 40% of title companies reported getting at least one email per month attempting to change wire instructions.[i] A survey from the 星空传媒 Association of Realtors paints an even more disturbing picture, with 63% of respondents indicating they were aware of deed/title fraud in their markets within the past 12 months.[ii]

In her recent claims wrap-up blog, 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Chief Claims Counsel, Mauri Hawkins, also emphasized that title and real estate fraud is arguably getting worse鈥攏ot better. 鈥淚n my opinion, it appears there has been an increase in the number of submitted title claim notices involving lawsuits challenging the validity and veracity of recorded real property instruments or the authority of a person to execute documents on behalf of a person or entity in the chain of title,鈥� she noted.

The sheer amount of fraud is not the only problem the industry is facing. Fraudsters鈥� increasingly advanced methods also pose a clear threat. They are 鈥渓everaging social engineering and devices to manipulate, influence and deceive; they continue to prey on what they see as a lucrative market and a quick payday,鈥�[iii] said Hawkins.

The role of 星空传媒 星空传媒 agents

Many 星空传媒 星空传媒 agents have continued to push back against this ever-rising tide of fraud across the United States. In 2025, their vigilance resulted in $1.6 million in savings. 星空传媒 星空传媒 helped support and incentivize these efforts through its Crime Watch program. The program issues $1,000 each time an eligible agent who meets the program criteria discovers and prevents fraud. The program awarded $11,000 to agents in 2025 alone, reinforcing 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 commitment to proactive fraud prevention.

星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 2025 Crime Watch Award Recipients:

What agencies can do

There are many lessons agencies can draw from these real-world experiences. Aransas County Title鈥檚 Brooke Turner, who prevented a nearly $250K transaction from going forward, explained that: 鈥淲e look at everything associated with identities and banking accounts鈥攊ncluding handwriting. If the handwriting on recorded documents doesn鈥檛 match the contract or wiring instructions, it鈥檚 a huge red flag.鈥�[iv] 

Tropics Title Services鈥� Jean Thomas, who blocked a fraudulent $23K transaction, echoed Turner鈥檚 comments on the importance of being comprehensive, as well as having strong internal protocols in place. 鈥淚 followed my gut, adhered to best practices and followed our tried-and-true policies for dealing with suspicious activities,鈥� Thomas reflected. 鈥淔raud is not going away in this industry, unfortunately,鈥� she continued. 鈥淲e must ensure that we thoroughly investigate any deals that carry sufficient red flags.鈥�[v]

These efforts align with 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 new Verify, Then Trust initiative鈥攄esigned to raise awareness and reinforce best practices that help stop fraud before it becomes a claim. Agents are urged to Verify, Then Trust on every file, every party, every time.

Additional best practices aligned with a 鈥淰erify, Then Trust鈥� mindset include:

• When possible, always speak to the customer directly rather than relying on digital communication.
• Always encrypt sensitive information such as wire instructions.
• Foster a highly collaborative agency culture to ensure collective expertise is brought to bear on suspicious transactions.
• Stay up to date on the latest news and trends related to real estate fraud and title claims. The 星空传媒 星空传媒 website blog remains a phenomenal source of information on everything from claims and cybersecurity tips to how to prepare for a data breach.
• Take advantage of continuing education classes offered through that focus on fraud, cybersecurity and compliance.
• Remember: when something feels off with a transaction, it probably is. Trust yourself and take action. As they say, it鈥檚 always better to be safe than sorry.

Make this a year of anti-fraud activity

Whether your agency is well-versed in addressing fraud or just beginning to put formal policies in place, now is the time to act. Working collaboratively with 星空传媒 星空传媒 can help support your efforts to identify and respond to potential fraud. Let鈥檚 continue working together to promote a safer and more successful industry鈥攂y remembering to Verify, Then Trust. Want to learn

[i]

[ii]

[iii] Claims: A Look Back At 2025 – 星空传媒 星空传媒 Title Insurance Co.

[iv] Texas Title Agent Spots Red Flags, Stops Dubious Deal – 星空传媒 星空传媒 Title Insurance Co.

[v] Two 星空传媒 星空传媒 Agents Take the Fight To Fraudsters – 星空传媒 星空传媒 Title Insurance Co.

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By Adam Mohrbacher

In the title industry, transaction security can never be secondary. When critical details are overlooked or due diligence is skipped, there can be real consequences for real people. It is for those reasons and more that 星空传媒 星空传媒 created its Crime Watch program, which rewards agents for going above and beyond to detect and deter fraud. 星空传媒 星空传媒 agent Aransas County Title became the latest recipient of the award when it stopped a dubious cash deal from closing. Read on to see why strong anti-fraud protocols can make all the difference in moments like these.

Having been in the title industry since 2008, Aransas County Title Escrow Officer Brooke Turner has worked on countless transactions over the course of her career. She knows all the hallmarks of a legitimate transaction, as well as the warning signs that not everything is on the up-and-up. When a contract for a $250,000 property came across her desk, Turner found elements of both. On the plus side, Aransas County Title knew the seller, having handled the purchase of her new home. Yet, some details about the buyer didn’t sit quite right. 鈥淭he buyers were young and not married, so that was already a red flag because they told us they had not been together too long,鈥� Turner told us. 鈥淭hey also said they were 鈥榗oming into money,鈥� which is something nobody says.鈥�

Things then got weirder. A woman claiming to be the buyer came in to drop off a $10,000 check鈥攁n 鈥渁mount of earnest money that was a little higher than what we typically see for that sales price.鈥� The check also wasn鈥檛 from her own account but from one belonging to her grandmother. The woman insisted everything was fine, but Turner and the rest of the Aransas County Title team were far from convinced. Scrutinizing the check, they noticed the handwriting matched the handwriting on the contract. It appeared that the buyer had actually signed her grandmother鈥檚 name.

They decided to verify with the issuing bank, which unsurprisingly reported that the account associated with the check had been closed. The bank reached out to the holder of the now closed account, who stated that she had not actually issued the check and was unaware of any contract. The account holder did say that the woman who dropped off the check was her granddaughter, but that she had been taken off the account due to misuse of funds. That was all the evidence Aransas County Title needed to cancel the contract, leaving any legal action up to the grandmother.

In the aftermath of the fraudulent transaction, Turner was left with mixed emotions. 鈥淚t made me mad that this type of thing occurred. But I was very happy that we noticed the red flags and put a stop to the transaction.鈥� The experience also reinforced the need for agencies to continue practicing strident anti-fraud measures as part of their daily workflows. At Aransas County Title, Turner explained, 鈥淲e look at everything associated with identities and banking accounts鈥攊ncluding handwriting. If the handwriting on recorded documents doesn鈥檛 match the contract or wiring instructions, it鈥檚 a huge red flag.鈥�

Again, the experience highlighted the necessity for the title industry to band together to curtail fraud. It is only through collaboration and innovation that meaningful progress can be made. Aransas County Title already does this by utilizing identity verification tools provided by its underwriter, 星空传媒 星空传媒, whenever they need to vet and verify suspicious transaction details. 鈥淲e double check ID info and banking info through the SecureMyTransaction program and verbally to verify identities and accounts,鈥� she said.

Fraud in the title industry is not going away, at least not any time soon. But with agents like Turner and agencies like Aransas County Title in the mix, fraudulent deals can still be stopped well before they close. By leveraging a mixture of tried-but-true anti-fraud measures and cutting-edge technology, they were able to prevent loss and protect transaction stakeholders. And their experiences offer important insights for any professional wanting to apply the same rigor and care to their own contracts.

Want to learn more about 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Crime Watch program? Start here. You can also check out and schedule a free demo for your agency.

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For Chelsa Holder, Director of Escrow Operations for Ellis County Title Company, something felt 鈥渙ff.鈥�

The seasoned title professional was working with a seller鈥檚 son on a transaction. The son had submitted a Power of Attorney (POA) to authorize the property鈥檚 sale. His pushy behavior, however, had unnerved the escrow assistant who was also working on the same file, which prompted Holder to investigate. 鈥淭he agent for the POA kept telling us how to do our jobs,鈥� said Holder. 鈥淗e was reluctant to provide key documents and details, and that behavior set off alarms with my team. I am super proud of them for bringing me this issue.鈥�

Digging into the transaction鈥檚 details, it didn鈥檛 take Holder long to spot some red flags. As fate would have it, Holder knew the principal listed in the file, which enabled her to recognize that their signature didn鈥檛 quite match. 鈥淚t was similar,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淏ut I knew something was off, especially knowing she had experienced memory loss in recent years.鈥�

Continuing her investigation, other worrying signs emerged, particularly when Holder looked at the notary stamp in the file. The notary listed on the POA had only become commissioned in May of 2024, several months after the POA had supposedly been executed in 2023. Furthermore, the notary lived in a county located nearly 300 miles away from Ellis County Title鈥攚hich made it impossible that they could be the transaction鈥檚 legitimate notary.

Having long prioritized due diligence in her work, Holder took the initiative to track down the listed notary and gain further verification. She reached out to the notary on Facebook and had a lengthy conversation about the issue. The next day, the notary sent Holder a picture of their signature and stamp, which did not match what was listed in the POA and confirmed that the transaction was indeed bogus. 

Holder and the notary reported the forgery to the Texas Secretary of State and local authorities. The team at Ellis County Title Company then halted the transaction and ultimately helped bring it to a secure resolution, with assistance from their underwriter, 星空传媒 星空传媒.

Holder鈥檚 emotions around the case鈥檚 outcome were complicated to say the least. 鈥淚 was on the edge of my seat,鈥� said Holder, in thinking back on the experience. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy and sad at the same time. Happy that we were able to catch it but sad that people take advantage of other people.鈥� According to Holder, the agent for the POA was trying to sell his mother鈥檚 house to provide her with funds, but he went about it the wrong way. 鈥淓ventually, we were able to close it with 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 help, and we were able to catch up with the seller at closing. She was happy that we assisted, understood why we needed to take the precautions we did, and she plans on making us lunch one day for us to all come visit her.鈥�

星空传媒 星空传媒 was happy about the resolution as well, which is why we were pleased to recognize Holder as a Crime Watch award recipient. The Crime Watch program awards title professionals $1,000 when they successfully identify an instance of attempted fraud and prevent the transaction from going forward. This program has proven to be wildly successful, saving stakeholders hundreds of thousands of dollars annually and helping lower the cost of claims for the industry. Holder plans to donate her $1,000 award to TLTAPAC, the organization dedicated to promoting the Texas land title industry to members of the Texas Legislature and other elected leaders.

From her quick thinking and effective communication to her savvy investigatory skills, Holder could not have been a more deserving Crime Watch award recipient. Her story is an important one, showcasing how critical it is to trust your gut in a high stakes transaction and always double-check the details.

Want to learn more about 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Crime Watch program? Find more information here.

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Although 2025 is barely a quarter old, independent agents have already been hard at work detecting, deterring and preventing fraudulent activity. At 星空传媒 星空传媒, we鈥檙e proud to support these anti-fraud efforts through our Crime Watch program, which incentivizes agents with $1,000 rewards to be extra vigilant when closing transactions. Two suspicious transactions at two different title agencies recently highlighted why this is a powerful approach to combating fraud. The agents collectively averted almost $300,000 in proposed liability. Let鈥檚 look at what happened and the lessons we can glean from their experience to keep future transactions safe.

Fighting fraud at First International Title

Florida-based First International Title, Hunter鈥檚 Creek, recently prevented a suspicious transaction from going forward and protected its customers from financial loss. Escrow Officer Natia Johnson, who played a key role in stopping the bogus deal, shared with 星空传媒 星空传媒 how her office became aware the deal was likely fraudulent. The first red flag had to do with the transaction鈥檚 seller, who purported to be a dual U.S. and U.K. citizen living in the United Kingdom. By the time Johnson began working on the file, there had been no direct communication between the seller and her realtor. The two individuals had, instead, connected almost exclusively through a third party, who claimed to be an associate of the seller. When Johnson attempted to connect with this third party via email, she received no response.

The situation took an even stranger and more suspicious turn when the third-party representative called First International and told Johnson he was with the alleged seller in London. During the call, Johnson pushed to speak with the seller directly, yet this conversation only raised her level of concern. 鈥淪he confirmed that her Social Security number was issued in 2007 and mentioned she is a naturalized citizen with dual citizenship,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淗owever, she also stated she does not have a current driver鈥檚 license or state ID, which is unusual.鈥� Adding to the confusion, the seller provided the name and number of her supposed husband, who needed to also sign the deed. Yet he proved to be unreachable despite repeated calls from Johnson.

Johnson shared her concerns with her client, and that鈥檚 when the biggest red flag emerged. 鈥淚 contacted our client to update them on the situation,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey mentioned Leonard had been present at the property just the day before and was reportedly still in the U.S. I asked, perhaps, if he flew to London just recently, but they stated 鈥榥o, he is in Florida.鈥欌��

While all this was going on, further discrepancies were discovered with some of the seller鈥檚 documents. Their passport鈥檚 signature didn鈥檛 match the mortgage documents, which helped Johnson make her final judgement call. 鈥淭his inconsistency, combined with the others, raised significant concerns about the authenticity of this transaction,鈥� she said.

Tropics Title: Ensuring trustworthy transactions

Tropics Title Services is a second Florida-based firm that was recently recognized for its fraud fighting efforts. Regional Marketing Director Jean Thomas was immediately suspicious when a transaction came across her desk that was a vacant land deal, a cash purchase, involved foreign sellers, and included an urgent buyer鈥攁ll quintessential hallmarks of fraud.

Not wanting to overstep the transaction鈥檚 agent, Thomas first reached out to the rest of her team and informed everyone what was going on. She next connected with the agent, who informed her that she had only communicated with the seller through email, which was another red flag. She then worked with her colleagues to request copies of the seller鈥檚 documents, which appeared inauthentic.

With suspicions mounting across Tropics Title, the team decided to place the transaction on hold until they could further verify the identities of those involved. Thomas reached out to 星空传媒 星空传媒 for help running further checks with the underwriter鈥檚 identity verification and fraud prevention tool, SecureMyTransaction. The link was promptly emailed out, but when the agency received no response after three attempts, it was concluded that the deal was likely fraudulent and should be canceled. 

Collective effort is key to anti-fraud success

Whenever attempted fraud is discovered and prevented, it naturally provokes a range of reflections and reactions. For Johnson and First International Title, it reaffirmed how agents and agencies can鈥檛 afford to leave any stone unturned if something feels off during a transaction. 鈥淚t was a stressful but rewarding experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t reinforced the need for vigilance, vigorously questioning any anomalies and, ultimately, trusting your instincts.鈥�

Thomas and the rest of the Tropics Title team felt similarly. 鈥淚 was relieved that I followed my gut, adhered to best practices and followed our tried-and-true policies for dealing with suspicious activities,鈥� Thomas reflected. 鈥淔raud is not going away in this industry, unfortunately,鈥� she continued. 鈥淲e must ensure that we thoroughly investigate any deals that carry sufficient red flags.鈥�

Agencies, of course, should not be alone in this ongoing fight against fraud. The problem is a collective one, and therefore, mitigating it also requires a collective, collaborative effort between underwriters and agencies.

Whether it be with its Crime Watch program or by providing cutting edge tools like SecureMyTransaction, 星空传媒 星空传媒 is committed to being part of that solution. Johnson put it best perhaps when asked about how such programs can help the industry: 鈥淭hey can prevent fraud, protect homeowners and lenders, and safeguard transactions from financial and legal risks.鈥�

Want to learn more about how you can leverage SecureMyTransaction at your agency? . And if you鈥檇 like to discover how you can take part in our Crime Watch program, follow this link for additional information.

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It is famously said that 鈥渃rime doesn鈥檛 pay.鈥� Unfortunately, in the digital age, the opposite is often true. Fraud is a major problem in our industry, and a sad reality that many title agencies have to deal with. Yet a lot can be done to stem the tide and prevent financial and reputational harm. One strategy that 星空传媒 星空传媒 has deployed quite successfully is its Crime Watch Program. As The Independent Underwriter for the Independent Agent^sm, 星空传媒 星空传媒 collaborates with its agents and incentivizes their efforts to detect, deter and prevent crime. The program has been very successful over the years, preventing millions of dollars of monetary loss. Continuing our New Year鈥檚 tradition, let鈥檚 review the 2024 program data and explore additional steps agents can take to foster a safer industry.

A persistent challenge

As we wrote last year, the problem of fraud within the title insurance industry is not going away. New digital tools are making the scammers鈥� job far easier, and victims often wind up paying a high price. Reporting from the previous year suggests Americans are defrauded out of billions of dollars every year due to wire fraud. The Senate Banking Committee recently wrote, for example, that those consumers lost approximately $10 billion in 2023 鈥� up 14% from the year before.[i]

An all-of-the-above approach

Of course, as any seasoned agent knows, there are numerous strategies that can increase transaction safety and mitigate risk. Some of these include:

• Whenever possible, speak with clients directly to better confirm their identity.
  • Deploy cybersecurity best practices like encryption to protect the integrity of wire instructions.
• Take a communicative and collaborative approach within your agency to ensure that critical details are never missed and that more people are looking out for relevant red flags.
• Stay apprised of the latest cybercrime schemes that fraudsters are using to steal money and harm transaction stakeholders. Currently, one of the most common schemes is seller impersonation fraud. You can read about聽it in this great blog聽by 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Chief Claims Counsel.
• Continue educating yourself and your agency co-workers by taking advantage of continuing education classes offered through platforms like聽.
• Leverage fraud prevention technology platforms. Solutions like聽聽can play a powerful role in reducing transaction risk.
• Remember that if something feels off with a transaction, it probably is. Always trust your gut, your experiences and your expertise.

Underwriter + agent = A united front

In addition to the strategies outlined above, participating in 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Crime Watch Program can help agents protect themselves, their businesses and their customers from fraud. The program rewards 星空传媒 星空传媒 agents to the tune of $1,000 each time they successfully stop a fraudulent transaction from going forward, thereby reducing the cost of claims. It also encourages agencies to work closely with their 星空传媒 星空传媒 underwriters when a suspicious transaction arises. Often, fraudsters will be less successful in pulling off a scheme if there are multiple sets of eyes on the transaction.

A crystal-clear impact

As last year鈥檚 Crime Watch data shows, this is clearly an effective approach to stopping fraudsters. In 2024, 星空传媒 星空传媒 agents prevented liability exposure of $5,075,000. Title agents stopped seller impersonators, prevented illegal fund diversions and recognized cashier鈥檚 check scams. Here鈥檚 the list of agents and agencies recognized by 星空传媒 星空传媒 for their fraud prevention efforts as part of the Crime Watch Program in 2024. We thank each of them for their dedication and commitment to promoting a safer industry.

• Lone Star Title Company of El Paso, Inc.
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Joe Fernandez
• Texas Secure Title Company, LLC
  • Recipients:
    • Gretchen Wright
    • Renee Hicks
    • Ashley Cleveland
    • Lizzie Angle
    • Professional Land Title Company
  • Recipient:聽Debbie Dicus
• Manatee Title LLC
  • Recipient:聽Nikki Vantilburg
• Matthews & Matthews, LLP
  • Recipient:聽Tammie Fleming
• People鈥檚 Title, LLC
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Lara Burris
• Alpha Title Guaranty, Inc.
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Joshua Carter Randol
• Providence Title Company
  • Recipients:
    • Melissa Mutchler
    • Kathy Montes
    • Karla Allen
    • Cathy Bennet
• McGill Escrow & Title, LLC
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Debbie Bello
• Asbury Land Title, Inc.
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Jessica Taylor
• Burke Law and Title LLC
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Beth Henry
• Brick City Title Insurance Agency, Inc.
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Janeil Campbell
• Suncoast One Title 鈥� Port Charlotte
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Jill Barberine
• Select Title & Escrow, LLC
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Patricia Moore
• First International Title, LLC
  • 搁别肠颈辫颈别苍迟:听Lucy Gomez

Keep fraudsters off balance in 2025

As a new year begins, now is the perfect time to recommit yourself and your agency to stopping fraud. This can seem like a tall order given the scope of the problem. Adhering closely to best practices and collaborating with your underwriter, though, are important ways to make progress toward this goal. 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Crime Watch Program is a prime example. It highlights how the best path forward is the one where we all work together.

Want to learn more about 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Crime Watch Program? Start here.

The post 星空传媒 星空传媒 Agents Make Sure Crime Doesn鈥檛 Pay appeared first on 星空传媒 星空传媒 Title Insurance Co..