Real Estate Deepfake Scams: What are They? How Can You Spot Them?

Cyber-enabled fraud—use of the internet or other technology to steal money, data or identity—accounted for losses of $13.7 billion in 2024, according to the latest data released by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Among cybercrimes, the use of deepfake technology is a growing concern. Deepfake scams increased 40% year-over-year, according to the 2026 Identity Fraud Report by security firm Entrust.

Here’s what you need to know about deepfake scams to protect yourself during your home journey.

What are deepfakes?

Deepfakes are realistic, AI-generated videos, images or audio recordings made to seem like they are from a real person, using their likeness. Deepfakes could sound like your lender or look like a loved one.

How are deepfakes used in real estate?

Scammers might use deepfake-generated audio or video to impersonate buyers, sellers, landlords, real estate agents, real estate lawyers, title agents or other professionals. By pretending to be real people involved in a real estate transaction, criminals can get access to personal information and steal money.

Deepfakes could help them change instructions for wiring money, like your downpayment, sending money to the scammer’s bank accounts instead of your title company. They can also manipulate property photos or virtual tours to hide defects, exaggerate home features or even fabricate nonexistent properties to sell to unsuspecting buyers.

What can you do to protect yourself?

• To verify instructions for wiring funds, always talk to the party who’s receiving the funds by phone on a known number, or meet in person. Any urgent change in instructions—whether delivered through an email, audio message or a video call—is a red flag. 
• If you get a call from someone involved in the transaction that seems off, hang up and call them back on the number you have saved.
• Work with trusted professionals who can help you spot red flags in the real estate industry.
• Use a secure messaging system or encrypted emails (rather than a free email account) when communicating about a real estate transaction.
• Try to avoid entering into a transaction on a property you haven’t seen in person or with a buyer or seller who communicates only electronically.
• Independently verify property documents and ownership through title companies and trusted parties. Never rely solely on digital copies that could have been altered.
• Ask for multifactor authentication before transferring funds or signing important documents. Many companies are now using a third-party verification tool, such as CertifID.
• Invest in fraud-detection tools that can detect deepfakes by analyzing facial movements in videos, voice anomalies and inconsistencies in digital images.
• Ask your lender about investing in an owner’s title policy to safeguard against record fraud. This insurance protects you against forged deeds, fraudulent liens and fake owners.

What should you do if you suspect a deepfake scam?

• Contact everyone involved in your transaction (real estate agent, lawyer, title company) to alert them to the suspected fraud so that they can exercise extra caution.
• Contact your local and state law enforcement.
• Report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Contact the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Credit: marylandhomeownership.com