The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has launched a new online resource called “Protecting Your Clients and Your Business From Fraud.” NAR said the guide helps members prevent, detect and report real estate fraud of all kinds. According to NAR, real estate fraud is increasing, and AI is making voice cloning and impersonation more convincing. The FBI reported that individuals lost $275 million to real estate fraud in 2025.
The resource is organized into three parts. The prevention section focuses on stopping fraud before it happens. The detection section lists red flags to watch for before a listing, during a transaction, at closing and after closing. The reporting section outlines the steps to take once fraud is identified.
NAR said the guide also covers basic cyber-hygiene practices, including multifactor authentication and password managers. For brokerages, it offers guidance on writing fraud-response procedures, training agents and staff, and educating clients about scams.
Nia Duggins, NAR’s senior policy representative of business issues, said agents and brokers need to understand how to protect themselves and their clients. Austin Perez, NAR’s senior policy representative, said transactions are attractive targets because they involve large sums of money, tight deadlines, multiple parties and heavy electronic communication. NAR said it will update the resource as new types of fraud emerge.
Why it matters
Agents and brokerages get a single reference for spotting and responding to fraud at each stage of a deal. Buyers and sellers may benefit when their agents verify information and slow down on suspicious requests.
Source: NAR, October 12, 2026. Read the original release
