Why This Matters
Real estate fraud includes schemes where criminals manipulate transactions, misrepresent ownership, use falsified documents or redirect funds during closing. Title and settlement professionals are frequent targets because they handle sensitive financial information, verify ownership and transfer funds. Preventing fraud requires secure processes, staff training, consumer awareness and clear communication throughout the transaction.
Types of Fraud in Real Estate
Deed and Mortgage Fraud
Deed and mortgage fraud involve forged documents, false information or unauthorized actions used to manipulate property ownership or financing. These schemes can create costly title defects and legal disputes.
Elder Abuse Fraud
Elder abuse fraud in real estate occurs when criminals exploit older property owners to gain access to their assets, often by manipulating, deceiving, or coercing them into transferring property rights or funds.
Seller Impersonation Fraud
Seller impersonation fraud occurs when criminals pose as property owners to sell real estate they do not own, often targeting vacant land, second homes, or investment properties.
Wire Fraud
Wire fraud occurs when criminals use fake or compromised communications to redirect closing funds to unauthorized accounts. These schemes often target real estate transactions because large sums of money move during closing.
Featured Resources
Commentary
Fraud Prevention Is a Hidden Key to Housing Affordability
In this RealClearPolitics op-ed, ALTA CEO Chris Morton argues that fraud prevention should be part of the housing affordability conversation. The piece explains how title professionals help reduce fraud risk, protect consumers and prevent hidden costs from being passed on to homebuyers, lenders and communities.
Commentary
The Hidden Housing Cost Washington Can’t Ignore: Real Estate Fraud
In this HousingWire commentary, ALTA CEO Chris Morton argues that real estate fraud is a hidden housing affordability cost that policymakers should not overlook. The article connects fraud prevention, title insurance and the work of title professionals to consumer protection, market stability and the long-term cost of homeownership.
Advocacy & Policy
Elder Real Estate Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention
This resource explains how older homeowners can be targeted through forged documents, coercion, misuse of power of attorney and other forms of financial exploitation. It also outlines legislative, enforcement and education initiatives policymakers can use to help prevent elder real estate fraud.
How Fraud Impacts Housing Affordability
This webpage explains why fraud prevention should be part of the housing affordability conversation, showing how fraud can increase costs for buyers, lenders and communities. It connects fraud prevention to market stability, consumer protection and the long-term cost of homeownership.
Meetings & Education
Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention at 2026 ALTA ONE
ALTA ONE Omni Session speaker Gen. Paul Nakasone will bring a national security perspective to the cyber and fraud threats facing real estate transactions. Drawing on his experience leading U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, Nakasone will explore emerging risks and how title professionals can strengthen defenses and protect consumers. Register for ALTA ONE.
Learn How to Spot Elder Real Estate Fraud and Financial Exploitation
It’s always important for title and settlement agents to proceed cautiously when encountering irregularities or unusual situations at closing. Listen to this webinar to learn about the prevalence of elder fraud, red flags to be aware of, reporting options to law enforcement and potential legislation.
Guarding Your Closing Funds: Strategies to Combat Wire Fraud
Listen to this webinar recording as experts examine emerging fraudulent schemes, including the use of AI deepfake technology and seller impersonation, and provide essential strategies for companies to protect themselves and their clients.
ALTA and PRIA Joint Fraud Forum
ALTA and the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) held a joint fraud forum on April 17. Experts shared information and suggestions on efforts to address deed and seller impersonation fraud.
Resources & Tools
5 Tips to Avoid Wire Fraud
When buying a home, be on alert for email or phone scams that will try to steal your money. Criminals can pose as your real estate agent, settlement agent or other trusted professional and provide false instructions for wiring mortgage closing funds. Watch this video for tips to avoid these scams.
Be a Savvy Consumer & Protect Yourself from Seller Impersonation Fraud
Seller impersonation fraud occurs when criminals pose as property owners to illegally sell real estate they do not own. ALTA resources help consumers spot red flags, sign up for property alerts, understand title insurance options and respond quickly if they become victims.
Red Flags to Spot Seller Impersonation Fraud
Fraudsters are impersonating property owners to illegally sell commercial or residential property. 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.
Protect Your Money from Wire Fraud Schemes When Buying a Home
Buying and selling a home is an exciting time, but there can be pitfalls for unsuspecting consumers. ALTA wants homeowners and sellers to be aware that criminals are using wire fraud schemes to steal funds intended for home purchases or the proceeds from property sales.
News & Insights
First American Unveils Real-time Fraud Alert System
Available to all First American policy-issuing title agents, Order Insights is now included with AgentNet Services, the digital storefront for First American Title’s products and services that launched earlier this year.
Closinglock Unveils Wire Fraud Insurance Coverage
Closinglock provides up to $2.5 million in coverage per wire transfer verified through its secure platform. Backed by Lloyds of London, the policy offers direct coverage for Closinglock customers, helping them reduce liability and protect clients with confidence.
9 Red Flags to Identify Deepfakes Targeting Financial Institutions
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert to help financial institutions identify fraud schemes associated with the use of deepfake media created with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools.
Real Estate Scams are on the Rise – Here’s What to Look Out For
Whether it's empty promises of lucrative pay days from flipping houses, fake property postings or deceptive mortgage relief schemes, real estate scams are on the rise, experts warn. The issue with these types of scams is that victims are at risk of losing a sizable amount of money given the monetary value of these transactions.
Don’t Send Your Down Payment Without First Taking This Simple Step
The ultimate target in wire fraud are homebuyers, many of them muddling through a long, complicated sale filled with seemingly endless steps and bewildering jargon. “It’s an overwhelming process, especially for first-time buyers,” says Diane Tomb, CEO of the American Land Title Association, who advises buyers to take the quick step of picking up the phone to verify the instructions before executing a wire transfer. ??It sounds simple, but it’s not simple when you’re in the middle of it."
Denver Couple Lost $30K in Email Scam Targeting Real Estate Deals
Experts are warning anyone buying or selling real estate after a Denver couple, days away from closing, lost tens of thousands of dollars. In 2023 Coloradans lost more than $57 million, in what's known as "BEC scams," or business email compromise, with real estate transactions as one target, according to the FBI.
Real Estate Scams are Skyrocketing. Here’s How to Protect Your Home Sale
It’s a shocking, intrusive crime. And it’s becoming more and more common. An unsuspecting homebuyer gets an email with instructions on where to wire funds for the real estate purchase. It seems to come from a real estate agent, an attorney or another person involved in the deal. But it's a fraud.
Old Republic Title, CertifID Partner to Combat Mortgage Payoff Fraud
CertifID and Old Republic Title formed a strategic partnership to help prevent mortgage payoff fraud in the title industry.
FBI Reports Cybercrime Losses Hit $12.5B, Record Number of Complaints Filed in 2023
The FBI received a record 880,418 complaints with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion in 2023, according to the 2023 Internet Crime Report.
Real Estate Fraud Risk is on the Rise, and Victims are Sounding the Alarm
Purchasing a home is an exciting milestone in a person's life, but criminals are increasingly exploiting such transactions through real estate fraud, robbing victims who are often left with little or no recourse.
Rynoh Unveils Account Verification Service
Rynoh released a new account verification service that allows title and escrow agents to confirm critical account information before sending a wire transaction.