In this last of four blogs for October 2026, we are wrapping it up with one final key principle for our REALTOR members to keep firmly in mind:

Cybersecurity shouldn’t begin when something suspicious happens.

Ideally, it begins well before the transaction.

Throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’ve looked at everyday online habits, scam awareness, and wire fraud.

But perhaps the most effective way to protect yourself and your clients is to make cybersecurity part of the normal way you conduct business.

That fits well with this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme message: 

Don’t Make It Easy for Them.

The National Cybersecurity Alliance emphasizes that online safety is less about making one perfect decision and more about repeating good habits consistently.

For REALTORS, that can mean building cybersecurity into every transaction from contract to closing.

Start during your early conversations with a buyer or seller.

Explain that real estate transactions can attract cybercriminals and that fraudulent emails, texts, websites, or impersonation attempts are possible.

Then establish expectations.

How will you normally communicate? How will sensitive information be shared? Who will provide wiring instructions? What should the client do if instructions suddenly change?

Those conversations can make an unexpected message much easier to recognize later.

Next, protect the transaction itself.

Use secure transaction platforms when available. Maintain strong, unique passwords and multifactor authentication on your own accounts. Keep your computer, phone, browser, and software updated.

Encourage clients to do the same.

And make verification routine.

If a request involves money or sensitive information, verify it independently. If something changes at the last minute, stop and check. If an email, text, or phone call feels unusual, don’t assume it’s legitimate simply because it includes the right names, property address, company logo, or transaction details.

Today’s scams can be sophisticated.

Our national Association, NAR, has recently cautioned REALTORS about AI-generated impersonation, spoofed communications, and fraudulent sellers in addition to more familiar phishing and wire-fraud schemes.

That makes one old-fashioned tool particularly valuable: Direct communication.

Pick up the phone. Call a number you know. Ask the extra question.

And make sure your clients know you want them to do the same.

If fraud is suspected or money has already been transferred, time is critical. Contact the financial institution immediately and report the incident promptly to the appropriate authorities, including the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

Cybersecurity may sound like a technology issue.

For REALTORS, it’s really a people issue.

It’s about protecting the people who trust us to guide them through an important financial and personal decision all across Wilson, Smith, and DeKalb counties.

And the best protection often begins with simple habits practiced consistently.

As Cybersecurity Awareness Month comes to a close, don’t leave those habits behind with October. Make cybersecurity part of the way you do business all year long.

EMTAR is proud to support our REALTORS members with education, resources, and information that help you better serve your clients and your community.

That’s one of the many ways we take pride in serving as your partner in success.

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,200+ REALTORS are a proud part of the 36,000+ members of Tennessee REALTORS and of the 1.5 million+ members of NAR, all working to serve the public and protect the rights of America’s property owners. EMTAR members are known not only for their unmatched real estate excellence and high ethical standards, but also for being generous, hospitable, others-focused, loyal, hardworking, and eager to help wherever and whenever help is needed.