Real Estate Fraud Is Rising. Know the Signs

ORLANDO, Fla. — Fraud in Florida real estate transactions is not new. Practically from the time Florida became a state – and maybe even before that – swindlers have used the sale of real estate to separate victims from their money. As the use of the internet in real estate transactions has increased, so has the sophistication of fraudsters. Real estate agents should familiarize themselves with some of the new tricks these charlatans use.

While real estate fraud in Florida can take many forms, MLSs and local associations recently flagged a scam worth noting. Earlier this year, they identified calls from numbers impersonating agents, traced to accounts posting bogus listings statewide. Authorities were notified and the numbers were blocked.

But what if you don’t work for an MLS or manage listing accounts? Unfortunately, many fraudsters use similar tactics to slip into systems and impersonate parties to a transaction or, increasingly, other brokerages and agents.

How can you protect yourself from such scams? Thankfully, there are some common red flags;

• Does the caller try to make it seem like things are urgent?
• Do they want a decision immediately?
• Do they talk in circles, talking a lot without saying much of importance?
• Does the information relating to the account or party they are calling about not match other records, such as addresses or phone numbers?
• Was the account recently changed?  
• Does the caller refuse to answer questions or deflect when questions are asked?
• Do they avoid in-person meetings?
• Does the caller asked to be called back at a number not already in the system?
• Does the caller vanish when challenged?

If you spot any of the tell-tale signs, it may be time to do some additional research. If it becomes apparent that a party is being impersonated, immediately report the issue to local law enforcement or the FBI. You can also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Advances in artificial intelligence are making impersonation scams harder to detect. Fraudulent emails used to contain multiple typos, but AI programs now polish vocabulary and syntax, making the emails appear authentic. Deep fakes of both voice and video improve by the day. Soon it may be virtually impossible to tell the real party from a fake.

Richard Swank is an Associate General Counsel for Florida Realtors

Note: Information deemed accurate on date of publication

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