Advocacy

Title Acceptance Pilot

The Biden Administration released a plan aimed at lowering housing costs that includes a pilot to waive the requirement for lender’s title insurance on certain refinances. ALTA called the announcement a political gesture offering a false promise of savings for homeowners while exposing consumers, lenders and taxpayers to greater financial risk.

Unregulated Alternatives to Title Insurance

ALTA continues to take the lead in engaging with state regulators, the FHFA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and lenders about the risks of waiving title insurance requirements.

FinCEN

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) requires title companies to collect and report beneficial ownership information on certain real estate transactions.

Non-Title Recorded Agreements for Personal Service

ALTA supports efforts to protect consumers by prohibiting the filing of unfair real estate fee agreements in property records. ALTA advocates for state laws and regulations preventing enforcement of NTRAPS.

Good Funds

The use of various payment rails in real estate transactions is governed by state Good Funds laws. These laws set requirements for acceptable forms of closing funds.

Seller Impersonation Fraud

Sophisticated fraudsters are using the real property owner’s Social Security and driver’s license numbers in the transaction, as well as legitimate notary credentials, which may be applied without the notary’s knowledge.

 Strategies to Combat Wire Fraud

April 24, 2025

In 2012, former FBI Director Robert Mueller opined, “There are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those that will be.” That statement rings true 13 years later. Today, wire fraud remains one of the most pressing threats facing title and escrow companies. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging business email compromise, seller impersonation and even deepfake technology to infiltrate transactions. As the threats have escalated, the types of strategies criminals use to steal funds continue to evolve. This highlights the importance of continuous training, robust verification processes and industry collaboration to protect businesses and consumers from financial loss.

 FBI: Cybercrime Losses Hit $16.6 Billion in 2024

April 23, 2025

Fraud and ransomware were the top schemes that resulted in record losses of $16.6 billion in 2024, according to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report. The report also provides losses due to business email compromise, real estate fraud and identity theft. Read on for details.

 Mapping Out Elements of a Robust Cybersecurity Implementation Program

April 17, 2025

The purpose of a cybersecurity plan is threefold: to ensure the security and privacy of sensitive customer data, to meet the strict regulatory requirements that exist to protect customers from fraud and ensure fair transactions, and to build and maintain client trust through appropriate risk management protocols. Read on for key steps to consider when establishing a strong cybersecurity program.

Phishers Disguise Attacks Inside SharePoint to Wreak Havoc

April 17, 2025

Hackers are getting creative to spread danger attacks. Their latest trick involves using Microsoft SharePoint. By disguising their phishing scams as legitimate SharePoint documents, criminals can sneak past security measures and put both individuals and companies at risk. Genady Vishnevetsky, chief info security officer for Stewart Title Guaranty Co. and chair of ALTA's Information Security Work Group, details how the attack is carried out, and provides tips to help thwart these attacks. 

FinCEN Renews Real Estate Geographic Targeting Orders

April 15, 2025

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on Oct. 15 renewed its Geographic Targeting Orders (GTO) that requires U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind shell companies used in non-financed purchases of residential real estate. The terms of the GTOs are effective through Oct. 9, 2025. FinCEN issued a final rule requiring certain industry professionals to report information to FinCEN about non-financed transfers of residential real estate to a legal entity or trust. This nationwide reporting framework will replace the GTOs. The rule goes into effect Dec. 1, 2025. ALTA will host a two-day virtual bootcamp to help title and settlement companies prepare for the rule. Click here for more information and to register.

OAuth-based Phishing Attacks: A New Twist on an Old Trick

April 9, 2025

Cybercriminals are continually adapting their tactics to overcome security measures and steal sensitive information. Recently, one of the emerging methods involves the misuse of OAuth, a popular authorization framework that enables users to grant third-party applications limited access to their accounts without having to share their passwords. Genady Vishnevetsky, chief info security officer for Stewart Title Guaranty Co. and chair of ALTA's Information Security Work Group, shares some strategies to protect your company from these attacks.