NAR Launches Online Fraud Resource to Help REALTORS® Protect Clients and Their Business
WASHINGTON – RealEstateRama – The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) today introduced “Protecting Your Clients and Your Business From Fraud,” a new online resource that helps members prevent, detect, and report real estate fraud in its many forms. It is meant to help members move toward their next transaction with greater confidence.
The need is growing. Real estate fraud is on the rise, and AI-powered voice cloning and impersonation are making scams more convincing. The FBI reports that individuals lost $275 million to real estate fraud in 2025.
Built for use at every stage of a transaction
Fraud can strike at any point in a deal, so the resource is organized for busy agents and brokers to consult from start to finish:
- Prevent: The first section focuses on stopping fraud before it happens, since prevention is the most effective defense.
- Detect: The second section outlines red flags to watch for before a listing, during a transaction, at closing, and after closing.
- Report: The third section lays out the steps members should take once they identify fraud.
The resource covers a broad range of threats and includes basic cyber-hygiene practices, such as multifactor authentication and password managers. For brokerages, it offers guidance on writing fraud-response procedures, training agents and staff, and educating clients about scams.
“Fraud is a major issue and challenge within the real estate industry. It is important that real estate agents and brokers understand how to protect themselves and their clients,” said Nia Duggins, NAR’s senior policy representative of business issues. “This new resource is just the latest example of NAR working to ensure that members are educated, equipped and empowered to avoid, prevent, and mitigate real estate fraud.”
“Real estate transactions are attractive targets for fraud because they involve large sums of money, tight deadlines, multiple parties, and extensive electronic communications,” said Austin Perez, NAR’s senior policy representative. “Most consumers only buy or sell a home a few times in their lives, while real estate professionals navigate transactions every day. That experience puts real estate professionals in a unique position to help clients recognize red flags, slow down, verify information, and avoid common fraud schemes.”
NAR will keep updating the resource as new types of fraud emerge. It is available at nar.realtor/fraud.
About the National Association of REALTORS®
The National Association of REALTORS® is involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. For free consumer guides about navigating the homebuying and selling transaction processes, from written buyer agreements to negotiating compensation, visit facts.realtor.
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Information about NAR is available at nar.realtor. This and other news releases are posted in the newsroom at nar.realtor/newsroom.
