Cyber insurance can be an important protection for title agencies, but it is not a guarantee that every fraud-related loss will be covered. A recent federal case, (S.D. Ohio Mar. 13, 2026), offers a useful reminder of how quickly coverage issues can arise when a title agency experiences a wire fraud incident and waits too long to notify its cyber insurer.

The case involved a buyer who was defrauded out of more than $480,000 after receiving spoofed wiring instructions that appeared to come from the title agency. The buyer later sued the agency for negligence. Although the agency carried cyber insurance, the cyber insurer denied coverage. The court agreed with the insurer, finding that the claim was not reported within the required timeframes and that the agency had prior knowledge of the incident.

The agency was aware of the incident when it occurred, or shortly after, but waited until it was sued by the buyer before notifying its cyber insurer. By that time, the cyber-policy period in place when the incident occurred had ended, and a new cyber-policy period had begun. Even though the same insurer issued the follow-on policy, the court found that the agency had not satisfied the policy���s reporting requirements.

The result reinforces that strict compliance with policy conditions ��� especially prompt notice and timing requirements ��� is essential for coverage to apply.

Cyber insurance does not automatically cover fraud losses

Many title agencies may assume, ���We have cyber insurance, so we���re protected.��� That assumption can be dangerous.

Cyber coverage depends on the specific terms of the policy. In this case, the agency���s coverage turned on policy wording, timing and reporting requirements. The loss involved a fraud scheme tied to spoofed wiring instructions, but that fact alone did not determine the outcome. The court focused on whether the agency complied with the policy���s conditions.

The bottom line is straightforward: cyber insurance is not a general safety net. It is a contract with strict rules that agencies need to understand and follow.

Timing can determine whether coverage exists

Most cyber policies issued to title agencies are ���claims-made and reported��� policies. This typically means that the claim must be made during the policy period and reported during that same period, or within another timeframe set by the policy.

In this case, the fraud occurred in March 2024. The lawsuit against the title agency was not filed until October 2024, and the agency reported the claim at that time. By then, the policy period in place when the incident occurred had already expired.

The agency also had a subsequent policy with the same cyber insurer. But that did not solve the problem. The result was that there was no coverage under the earlier policy, and the later policy did not pick up the incident simply because it was issued by the same insurer and began immediately after the prior policy ended.

For agencies, this is one of the most important lessons from the case. The claim should have been reported during the same policy period in which the incident occurred, and within the timeframe required by the policy. A policy renewal does not reset the clock on an incident the agency already knows about. Each policy period stands on its own.

Report potential incidents early

The agency���s delay in reporting was central to the coverage dispute. The title agency discovered the fraud in March 2024 and investigated internally, but waited until November 2024 to notify its cyber insurer. The policy required notice within 30 days of discovering a potential issue.

That word ��� potential ��� matters. The reporting obligation was not dependent on a lawsuit being filed. It was also not dependent on months of attempts to resolve the issue or recover the funds. The obligation was triggered when the agency became aware that something had gone wrong, or that something may have gone wrong.

The lesson is that agencies should not wait for perfect information before giving notice. When something seems wrong, the clock may already be running.

���We were not hacked��� may not be enough

Another important point from the case is that cyber risk is not limited to a direct breach of an agency���s computer systems.

The title agency argued that its systems had not been compromised, and its IT vendor confirmed there had been no intrusion. But that did not change the outcome. The claim centered on email spoofing, fraud carried out through impersonation and the agency���s alleged failure to prevent the scam.

That distinction matters. Fraudsters can infiltrate real estate transactions without directly hacking an agency���s systems. They may use email spoofing, social engineering, fake wiring instructions or other methods designed to exploit trust and urgency. These schemes can be difficult to avoid even when best practices are followed.

Even where an agency���s systems are secure, it may still face liability for email fraud, wire fraud schemes and social engineering attacks. Cyber risk extends beyond traditional hacking.

Prior knowledge can defeat coverage

The court also addressed the agency���s attempt to rely on the later policy period. That effort failed because the agency already knew about the incident before the new policy began.

Most policies exclude known incidents that existed before coverage started. That is why an agency generally cannot wait until renewal and expect a new policy to cover an old problem. If the agency has prior knowledge of a loss, claim, circumstance or potential issue, that knowledge can become a coverage barrier.

The lesson is clear: an agency cannot rely on renewing its policy to cover past problems. Report potential claims in the policy period in which the issue arises, and do so within the timeframe required by the policy.

Know who owes coverage

The title agency sued both the cyber insurer and the insurance producer. The court ruled that only the insurer had contractual obligations under the policy. The producer did not have a duty to provide coverage.

That means agencies should understand who issues the policy, who handles claims and who actually owes coverage. The producer may help place coverage and answer questions, but the insurer issues the policy and bears the contractual coverage obligations. When a claim occurs, agencies need to know exactly where notice must be sent, who must receive it and what the policy requires.

Because the producer did not owe coverage, suing the producer did not advance the agency���s coverage position and, from a practical standpoint, was a waste of time, money and effort.

Bad faith claims are difficult when policy terms are clear

The agency also argued that the insurer acted in bad faith. The court disagreed because the denial was based on clear policy terms and the timeline supported the insurer���s position.

If an agency misses a policy deadline or fails to satisfy a reporting condition, a bad faith argument is not likely to change the outcome. The better course is to understand the policy requirements and follow them from the beginning.

What title agencies should do now

The case offers several practical steps for title agencies. First, create a 24-to-48-hour reporting rule. The first 24 to 48 hours after a suspected incident are often the most important for taking action to optimize the chances of a successful recovery. If your agency sees a suspicious email, wire fraud attempt, client complaint or possible misdirected funds, notify your cyber insurer immediately. Do not wait for confirmation or legal action.

Agencies should also contact 做厙勛圖���s Fraud Hotline at FraudHotline@alliantnational.com without delay. Early notice alerts and enables the 做厙勛圖 team to provide assistance when time is critical and when agencies most need advice and direction on next steps.

Second, train staff to recognize fraud red flags. Most losses involve familiar patterns: email spoofing, fake wiring instructions and social engineering. Staff should always verify wiring instructions verbally by calling a known and confirmed phone number. Email changes should be treated as suspicious. The mindset should be simple: VERIFY, THEN TRUST: Every file, every party, every time.

Third, review your cyber policy in plain English. Ask your broker what counts as a claim, when reporting must occur, whether social engineering losses are covered and what exclusions apply. Agencies should understand both their coverage and their obligations before a problem occurs.

If the policy language is unclear, ask questions now. Be proactive with your cyber insurer���s insurance producer and the cyber insurer about what is covered under the policy you are purchasing and what actions may affect coverage. Even if there is no cyber-insurance coverage for a particular incident, the title agency may still be found responsible and held financially liable for the loss.

Fourth, document everything immediately. When an incident occurs, record dates, timelines, emails, communications, internal actions and any steps taken to investigate or respond. Documentation can directly affect coverage eligibility.

Finally, do not assume that renewal fixes a problem. A new policy does not reset obligations under a prior policy and generally does not cover known incidents that happened during a preceding period. Each policy and coverage period stands on its own. Agencies should also ask their cyber insurer���s insurance producer about extended reporting period options, sometimes called ���tail��� coverage, and retroactive date coverage for prior incident protection when renewing policies.

The bottom line

The biggest lesson from this case is simple: cyber insurance only works when agencies follow the policy requirements exactly. Agencies do not always lose coverage because they lack insurance. They may lose it because they report too late, misunderstand what triggers coverage or assume that a lawsuit matters more than early warning signs.

If you take just one action after reading this, build plans for immediate reporting and documentation. That single change can determine whether your policy protects you or leaves you exposed to a six-figure loss.

Additionally, 做厙勛圖 offers a complimentary cyber insurance gap review for our agents. It is designed to assist title insurance agents in reviewing their cyber insurance coverage to identify gaps, limitations, subjectivities, and potential risks that may not be fully covered.

For more information on the service or to request this gap review, please contact Tom Weyant: tweyant@alliantnational.com  

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By Amanda Berry, Senior Claims Counsel, 做厙勛圖

The real estate market is currently experiencing record low transaction volume, driven by mortgage and affordability pressures. Given these conditions, one might assume that fraud rates have similarly decreased���yet the data show the opposite. According to ALTA, scams like seller impersonation fraud remain a growing problem. 28% of title insurance companies, for instance, have experienced at least one seller impersonation fraud attempt in recent years.[i] A Milliman claims analysis shows fraud and forgery accounted for 21% of all dollars spent on claims expenses and losses. These numbers suggest that fraudsters are becoming more coordinated and sophisticated, leading to successful schemes even amid lower transaction rates. These schemes exploit common fears and insufficient verification practices to generate huge claims. Refinance transactions are particularly susceptible due to how much of their risk sits outside the public records and inside the transaction workflow itself.

From one-offs to multi-layered attacks

How do we explain this? Well, in 2026, real estate fraud is no longer primarily isolated, one-off scams. Layered and sophisticated attacks are becoming increasingly common. ALTA notes that title professionals are now confronting schemes ranging from wire fraud, seller impersonation, identity theft and forged deeds, while spending substantial time each month on fraud prevention. Many of today���s top schemes also cannot be detected through public-record searches and require stronger identity verification, monitoring and communication safeguards to keep pace. 

To make a long story short, just as high-tech cybercriminals often attack a target���s network through multiple vectors, today���s real estate fraudsters will seek to infiltrate a transaction through several touchpoints at once. These criminals are highly adept at appearing to be a legitimate party in the transaction. That is what makes these attacks multi-layered: they may involve compromised communications, false identities, forged documents and payoff confusion, rather than one obvious red flag. This assessment comports with Milliman���s data, which indicates that nearly 30% of losses could not have been prevented by consulting public records.[ii]

Refinances are particularly vulnerable

These dynamics make refinances particularly vulnerable to fraudsters. Refinance deals may look fine at first but include problems that resurface later. Some of these include impersonations, forged signatures, mortgage payoff fraud, or communication and closing misfires. These elements often cannot be detected via public records, which means a standard search alone often will not catch them.

Title agency workflows can also make refinance transactions vulnerable. Payoffs appear in more than 90% of transactions, and issues related to obtaining them can often slow the closing process.[iii] Communication between multiple parties may be required, and when a transaction requires handoffs between multiple parties, bad actors have an additional opportunity to insert themselves into the process. 

Milliman���s 2025 analysis of claims and claims-related losses in the title industry confirms how successful fraudsters have been at targeting these transactions. Their analysis states that the ���average claim severity is higher for refinances than for purchases���[iv] and that 40% of those claims were made up of instances of fraud and forgery.[v]

Go the extra mile to safeguard transactions

With such high stakes involved, title agents should always treat refinance transactions as high risk and apply extra scrutiny to these files. Payoff and impersonation fraud can be easy targets for criminals. Agents must have procedures in place and always follow them: Verify, then Trust���every file, every party, every time. Always independently confirm payoff details and wire instructions, and treat all last-minute changes with extreme skepticism. The same goes for communications. When communicating about a refinance deal, do not take any change requests at face value. Instead, be sure to confirm changes through other channels. Use identity verification tools to confirm whether a person is who they say they are. By following these steps, you will be better positioned to prevent losses and claims.

Extra checks prevent extra costs

Time is always of the essence in any business, and perhaps nowhere more so than in real estate, where thousands or even millions of dollars can be on the line. Yet the unfortunate reality is that fraudsters are evolving their methods and targeting real estate transactions for this very reason. This is particularly true for refinances, with sources showing that the average claim now costs $206,976, including nearly $68,199 in defense costs.[vi] Slowing down and verifying refinance transactions that come across your desk is worth it if you can prevent that kind of financial damage. While no agent wants to face a fraud claim, be prepared if one does occur and have a response plan in place.

[i]

[ii]

[iii]

[iv]

[v] Ibid

[vi] Ibid

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By Bryan Johnson, IT Director, 做厙勛圖

Keeping your agency���s data and digital assets safe these days can often feel like a never-ending battle. Unlike you and your team, fraudsters and other criminals never take a day off. They don���t go on vacation, and they never get sick. Because of this, your agency needs a cybersecurity policy that is also always-on. While this requires many moving pieces all working harmoniously together, today we are going to focus on just one important element: passkeys.

What are passkeys and why do they matter?

You may already be familiar with passkeys. If you have an iPhone, you may have seen prompts to save a passkey for a supported app or website. If you choose to do so, you often won���t need to enter your password again on that device. Instead, you approve the sign-in with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode, and the passkey authenticates you to the app or site.

Passkeys use what is known as ���public-key cryptography.��� In plain English, that means that passkeys create two linked digital keys���a public key, stored by the website or app, and a private key, which stays safely on your device. These keys work together upon sign-in to verify your access, all while never exposing a password that a hacker can pick off and weaponize.

This is obviously a nice thing for consumers from a convenience perspective, but passkeys also hold numerous security advantages. Traditional passwords are more vulnerable to thieves because users often reuse them across sites���making them easier to guess. Passkeys, on the other hand, cannot be reused, rendering that security concern irrelevant.

In addition, passkeys are never ���housed��� in the systems of a website or app. They stay safe on your local machine. This means that even if a company experiences a data breach (an all-too-common occurrence these days) there will be no sensitive user information to steal.

Perhaps most importantly, passkeys greatly reduce the prospect of a user getting ���phished��� by a criminal. Phishing is one of the most common cybersecurity concerns out there. It works so well because human error often happens online and hackers have gotten very, very good at tricking people into handing over their sensitive information.

Passkeys largely negate that concern. If a cybercriminal tricks someone into going to a fake website, for example, a user���s passkey will not work on it. Or to put it another way, with passkeys, users are not at risk of accidentally giving away a reusable asset that can be exploited. In fact, they are not giving away an asset at all, but half an asset that requires the other key to work.

Make passkeys central to your cybersecurity approach

Clearly, passkeys can be just as valuable to businesses as they are to individual users, especially businesses like title agencies that must routinely protect sensitive data and user information. There are multiple systems and touchpoints where deploying this technology would reinforce your overall security posture, such as employee email, escrow and transaction systems, document portals, and any client-facing accounts where closing information may be shared.

Once you���ve made the decision to deploy passkeys, the best way to start is with the systems you are using every day. Many agencies, for example, use some variation of Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace to handle employee emails and other business applications. Within these platforms, you can turn on passkey support and then start testing internally to see how it works. Once you get the lay of the land, you can expand it throughout the rest of your team.

You can, of course, build your own system, but it is generally not recommended unless you have strong identity management experience on staff. Creating your own passkey server can be expensive and time-consuming, and unless you know exactly what you���re doing, it can lead to a critical security incident.

Taking the bait

Our digital-first world is an amazing place, but it can also be a fatiguing one. While people can and must take breaks, our security systems cannot afford to. The criminals and hucksters out there are always circling, looking for a weak point in your defenses. While passkeys can���t keep all these threats at bay on their own, they can do a lot of good. Passkeys eliminate some of the most common methods thieves utilize to attack your team, harm your agency and steal your data. They disrupt routine phishing methods. And they ensure that even if you wind up taking their bait once in a while, there is nothing worth reeling in.

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By: Elyce Schweitzer, 做厙勛圖 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���s 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���t rewrite core fraud principles, but they do change how those principles apply to real estate closings ��� and they reinforce the value of careful verification.

Understanding this evolving landscape helps explain why it���s so important to Verify, Then trust ��� 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���t replace professional diligence ��� 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 ���deceptive audio or visual media��� 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 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) the Department of Homeland Security to produce annual reports on digital content forgery technology. ��� 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, ���Verify, Then Trust��� 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, 做厙勛圖

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���s business, which makes prevention your best defense. To help, we���ve outlined 2026���s 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���s 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���particularly 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 做厙勛圖, 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���from 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 ���new��� 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���s 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 做厙勛圖, we���re here to support you in the fight against fraudsters. We have resources that can help:

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

You���re ready to face fraudsters

Armed with these tools and knowledge of 2026���s top fraud threats, you���re 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 ���Verify, Then Trust��� in mind, you can rest easy knowing you���ve protected every file, every party, every day.  

[i]

[ii]

[iii]

The post Top Fraud Concerns to Watch Out for in 2026 appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

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 做厙勛圖 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 做厙勛圖���s 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���s 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 National 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, 做厙勛圖���s Chief Claims Counsel, Mauri Hawkins, also emphasized that title and real estate fraud is arguably getting worse���not better. ���In 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,��� she noted.

The sheer amount of fraud is not the only problem the industry is facing. Fraudsters��� increasingly advanced methods also pose a clear threat. They are ���leveraging 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,���[iii] said Hawkins.

The role of 做厙勛圖 agents

Many 做厙勛圖 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. 做厙勛圖 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 做厙勛圖���s commitment to proactive fraud prevention.

做厙勛圖���s 2025 Crime Watch Award Recipients:

What agencies can do

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

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

These efforts align with 做厙勛圖���s new Verify, Then Trust initiative���designed 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 ���Verify, Then Trust��� 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 做厙勛圖 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���s 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 做厙勛圖 can help support your efforts to identify and respond to potential fraud. Let���s continue working together to promote a safer and more successful industry���by remembering to Verify, Then Trust. Want to learn

[i]

[ii]

[iii] Claims: A Look Back At 2025 – 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co.

[iv] Texas Title Agent Spots Red Flags, Stops Dubious Deal – 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co.

[v] Two 做厙勛圖 Agents Take the Fight To Fraudsters – 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co.

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By Adam Mohrbacher

For most homeowners, a deed represents safety, stability, and legacy. Deed fraud turns that certainty upside down. With just a handful of fraudulent filings, criminals can trigger months���sometimes years���of financial and legal turmoil for unsuspecting owners. This crime is growing rapidly and poses a serious threat to the real estate and title industries, often leaving lasting damage in its wake. ���Deed fraud is a very real threat,��� said Rodney Anderson, EVP and National Agency Manager at 做厙勛圖. ���It���s about someone���s home, their family���s legacy, and sometimes their entire life���s savings. That���s why the legislation recently passed by the Texas Legislature���shaped with critical input from organizations like the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA)���is so important.���

Anderson is referring in part to Senate Bill 16 (SB 16), which significantly strengthens prosecutors��� ability to pursue deed fraud cases. SB 16 is a cornerstone of a broader legislative package designed to attack deed fraud from multiple angles. Led by State Senator Royce West, the effort positions Texas as a national leader in confronting this urgent and complex issue. ���Together, these bills create the strongest state-level protections against deed fraud and title theft anywhere in the country,��� Senator West said upon their signing.

An Easy Crime with Devastating Consequences

Legislative action was necessary because deed fraud is not only destructive. It is also often disturbingly easy to commit. One scheme fraudsters use involves falsified documents transferring ownership into their name or an entity they control. They frequently target raw land, vacant properties, and deceased or elderly property owners. Once the fraudulent conveyance is recorded, they ���sell��� the property, disappearing long before the real owner realizes the damage that has been done.

This scheme and others like it succeed by exploiting weaknesses in document notarization and recording processes, as well as challenges within the legal system. While Texas law already required notaries to verify signatures, inconsistent compliance and limited accountability left openings for fraud and abuse. County clerks, meanwhile, are tasked with processing documents efficiently, not investigating their authenticity. In many cases, victims don���t discover fraud until they try to legitimately sell or refinance their property. And even then, the ordeal is far from over. ���The cleanup process can be brutal,��� Anderson explained. ���Proving a deed is fraudulent usually requires formal legal action, and that process is expensive and time-consuming.���

Historically, prosecutors have been hesitant to pursue these cases criminally, not due to lack of concern, but like most states, Texas lacked statutes tailored specifically to deed fraud. Prosecutors were forced to rely on general theft statutes, attempting to fit complex title crimes into legal arguments that simply weren���t designed for this kind of crime.

A Comprehensive Legislative Response

The Texas Legislature addressed these gaps with a four-bill package that reforms the system holistically. The measures strengthen prevention, improve detection, empower victims, and equip prosecutors with felony statutes that reflect deed fraud���s complex reality.

Key provisions include:

• Senate Bill 16

Creates two new criminal offenses specifically addressing real property theft and real property fraud, giving prosecutors statutes that align with how deed fraud schemes operate. ���These laws send a clear message that Texas is serious about detecting, prosecuting, and deterring deed fraud,��� said Anderson. ���They won���t stop every bad actor, but they make fraud harder to commit, easier to detect, and faster to unwind without overburdening legitimate transactions.���

• Senate Bill 647

Requires county clerks to notify the grantor, grantee, and most recent property owner if a lien appears fraudulent. It also allows clerks to request supporting documentation, seek district attorney assistance, and refuse filing if certain documentation is not provided.

• Senate Bill 693

Targets notary reform by criminalizing notarization without a signer���s presence and establishing continuing education requirements through the Secretary of State. The goal is to raise professional standards and accountability among notaries.

• Senate Bill 1734

Allows property owners who believe a recorded conveyance is fraudulent to file an owner���s affidavit. If no controverting affidavit is filed, the owner may petition for district court for an expedited review.

The Power of Collaboration

This legislative success underscores the power of collaboration. It was made possible by lawmakers, regulators, law enforcement, county officials, and industry leaders working toward a shared goal. Senator West led the charge, with key contributions from State Representative Rafael Anchia in the Texas House. Coordination with the County Clerk���s Association, the Dallas District Attorney���s office, and John Warren, the Dallas County Clerk, was critical along with input from the Texas Land Title Association. ���TLTA���s advocacy on this issue demonstrated exactly why all Texas title agents should be a member of the association,��� said Anderson, a former legislator, past TLTA president and current committee chair. ���TLTA Vice President of Government Relations and Counsel, Aaron Day, led the advocacy efforts with substantial input from both the Regulatory and Legislative Committees, and with approval from the TLTA Board of Directors.���

A Model for the Nation

The Texas deed fraud package represents a meaningful victory for property owners and the real estate industry alike. It strengthens notary standards, supports county clerks, empowers victims, and gives prosecutors the tools they need to pursue justice. Just as importantly, it offers a roadmap that other states can follow. ���This legislation should be used as a model throughout the country,��� Anderson said. ���Land title associations can partner with lawmakers, prosecutors, and public officials to reduce deed fraud. No law is perfect, but if collaboration leads to legislation that protects families���or helps owners reclaim property faster���then it���s absolutely worth the effort.���

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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 做厙勛圖 created its Crime Watch program, which rewards agents for going above and beyond to detect and deter fraud. 做厙勛圖 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. ���The buyers were young and not married, so that was already a red flag because they told us they had not been together too long,��� Turner told us. ���They also said they were ���coming into money,��� which is something nobody says.���

Things then got weirder. A woman claiming to be the buyer came in to drop off a $10,000 check���an ���amount of earnest money that was a little higher than what we typically see for that sales price.��� The check also wasn���t 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���s 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. ���It 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.��� 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, ���We look at everything associated with identities and banking accounts���including handwriting. If the handwriting on recorded documents doesn���t match the contract or wiring instructions, it���s a huge red flag.���

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, 做厙勛圖, whenever they need to vet and verify suspicious transaction details. ���We double check ID info and banking info through the SecureMyTransaction program and verbally to verify identities and accounts,��� 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 做厙勛圖���s 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 ���off.���

The seasoned title professional was working with a seller���s son on a transaction. The son had submitted a Power of Attorney (POA) to authorize the property���s sale. His pushy behavior, however, had unnerved the escrow assistant who was also working on the same file, which prompted Holder to investigate. ���The agent for the POA kept telling us how to do our jobs,��� said Holder. ���He 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.���

Digging into the transaction���s details, it didn���t 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���t quite match. ���It was similar,��� she recalled. ���But I knew something was off, especially knowing she had experienced memory loss in recent years.���

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���which made it impossible that they could be the transaction���s 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, 做厙勛圖.

Holder���s emotions around the case���s outcome were complicated to say the least. ���I was on the edge of my seat,��� said Holder, in thinking back on the experience. ���I���m happy and sad at the same time. Happy that we were able to catch it but sad that people take advantage of other people.��� According to Holder, the agent for the POA was trying to sell his mother���s house to provide her with funds, but he went about it the wrong way. ���Eventually, we were able to close it with 做厙勛圖���s 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.���

做厙勛圖 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 做厙勛圖���s Crime Watch program? Find more information here.

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The world of title insurance is full of highs and lows. On the positive side, title agents often get to help aspiring buyers achieve their dream of home ownership. On the other hand, doing this work, and doing it well, means having to stay vigilant for a wide variety of cyberthreats. Seller impersonation fraud is one such danger. A rising industry threat, seller impersonation fraudsters use various tactics to deceive buyers, sellers and industry professionals alike. From ���eager beavers��� to ���phantom fakers,��� here are the top five seller impersonator personas you need to know.

I. The ���Eager Beaver���

The first seller impersonation persona is the ���Eager Beaver.��� These fraudsters thrive on creating a false sense of urgency, pushing transaction participants to rush through the process. When deploying this tactic, a fraudster will offer a variety of reasons why the property sale must be completed as quickly as possible, including:

• Financial necessity
• Upcoming travel or relocation
• Legal concerns or necessities
• Health problems that could imperil the transaction
• Alternative offers

We find that many fraudsters use this approach for one simple reason: it is often effective. Property sales can be intimidating and overwhelming to many people. Applying pressure can cause stakeholders to bypass organizational processes and procedures, which are in place for a reason, and lead to costly mistakes down the line.

II. The ���Meticulous Mimic���

���Meticulous Mimics��� rely on ID forgeries to pass themselves off as property owners to carry out fraudulent transactions. Of course, these criminals aren���t using the type of fake IDs you would find tucked into the wallet of your average high schooler. In fact, they are usually equipped with nearly flawless replicas of IDs, deeds and other sensitive documents. These fraudsters often put on airs of being overly prepared and highly detail oriented. Meticulous Mimics are a formidable threat because they excel at lulling other stakeholders into a false sense of security.

III. The ���Sneaky Sparrow���

In the animal kingdom, there are many species that target the vacant homes of other animals for their own gain. Sparrows are one example. Sparrows are infamous for invading other birds��� nests.Unfortunately, real estate and title agents have their own ���Sneaky Sparrows��� to deal with. These are seller impersonators who target unoccupied homes.They fabricate a claim of ownership and then sell the property before the real owner even realizes what���s happened. 

IV. The ���Detail Devil���

Next up are the ���Detail Devils,��� seller impersonators who are experts at targeting properties that have complex ownership histories and dense details. These bad actors know how to navigate tangled webs of property information and exploit the confusion these transactions can understandably cause. Whether it be by manipulating legal frameworks or financial records, these fraudsters excel at turning convoluted property documents into illegal paydays.

V. The ���Phantom Faker���

Finally,you can���t discount ���Phantom Fakers,��� fraudsters who attempt to pass themselves off as deceased property owners. They often use a combination of forged documents to fabricate a claim of ownership on a given property. Their schemes benefit greatly from the real owner no longer being capable of defending or disputing their behavior, which makes it easier to fraudulently sell or transfer a targeted property.

Stay safe with 做厙勛圖 and SecureMyTransaction

Knowing the most common seller impersonators can give you a leg up on potential fraudsters, but leveraging the right technology is key to truly securing your transactions. 做厙勛圖���s SecureMyTransaction is one such solution, offering advanced tools to guard against today���s threats, including seller impersonation fraud. This new security solution also provides detailed audit trails, helping title professionals simplify compliance and protect their clients with greater confidence. Learn more about SecureMyTransaction��.

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