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Every closing is a large payment that depends on trustworthy email. Every rental application is a complete identity file. You get the controls that stop wire fraud, protection for client and tenant data, and AI that saves time on listings and paperwork.
Real estate runs on email, e-signature, transaction software and phones, often agents’ personal ones. Each deal involves many parties who don’t know each other well, and listing and property records are public. That’s everything a wire fraud scheme needs.
Property managers carry a different load: rental applications full of Social Security numbers, bank statements and pay stubs, plus tenant portals and payment systems. That data deserves the same care a lender gives it.
Brokerages also have a supervision problem. Agents are often independent contractors with their own devices and habits, and the brokerage’s name is still on every transaction.
Real estate has fewer data regulations than finance or healthcare, but several still apply, along with your carriers’ expectations.
Real estate is one of the most targeted industries for fraud, and the losses are climbing. Here’s where it happens, with the numbers behind it and what I do about each.
Scammers watch the deal, then send new wire instructions that appear to come from the agent or title company. Once a wire clears, the money is very hard to get back.
What I doMulti-factor sign-in on every agent’s email and transaction account, a firm rule that wire instructions are only confirmed by phone at a known number, and a fraud warning at the start of every transaction.
Buyers lose down payments and sellers lose their net proceeds. Every party in the deal, from the agent to the lender to the title company, is a possible way in.
What I doManaged, encrypted agent devices that can be wiped if lost, alerts on suspicious mailbox rules, and secure portals for documents instead of email attachments.
Older buyers, sellers and renters are often moving savings they can’t replace, and their average loss was more than twice the overall average.
What I doPlain-language fraud warnings in every engagement, a simple verification step clients can follow, and one clear number to call if anything changes.
Scammers copy real rental listings, post them at a lower rent and collect deposits from people who never get keys. Your company’s name is on the property.
What I doRegular checks for copies of your listings, an easy way for renters to verify a listing is real, and payments accepted only through your official portal.
Related services: Network security & cybersecurity · Managed IT services · Microsoft 365 & Google Workspace · AI consulting & integration · Staff training
AI is a natural fit for listings, market updates and client follow-up. Just keep client finances and identities out of public tools, and check what it writes.
Listings, inspections, work orders and renewals all generate data your team handles by hand. AI can take on the sorting and the first draft.
Photos used to describe, document and compare properties instead of sitting in a folder.
Best forBrokerages and property managers handling a lot of photos.
Work orders, equipment age and lease data used to plan ahead instead of reacting.
Best forProperty managers with growing portfolios and the same small team.
Everyone in the transaction is a target, agents included. A compromised agent mailbox can redirect a client’s down payment as easily as a compromised title company. Your clients will remember who they trusted.
A lot, if you set it up front: brokerage email accounts with multi-factor sign-in, a short security policy in the independent contractor agreement, and approved apps for documents and e-signature. It protects them as much as the brokerage.
Call the sending bank’s fraud line immediately and ask for a recall, then file at ic3.gov. Speed matters: funds can sometimes be frozen if the banks and the FBI are told quickly. Keep this procedure written down where every agent can find it.
Yes, and it saves real time. Review every description before it goes live, since AI can invent features, and keep personal details about sellers and tenants out of the prompt.
Figures and rules on this page were checked against these sources on October 27, 2026, using the latest edition available. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Tell me how your brokerage or management company runs today. You’ll get a short, prioritized list of fixes, starting with the ones that protect client money.