This post is adapted from a series of Consumer Guides published by the National Association of Realtors^® to provide timely, relevant information to home buyers and sellers on a range of vital topics. The full series is available here. 

We’ve all been on the receiving end of slick, sneaky attempts to defraud us. Whether via a phone call, a text, an email, a flyer that lands in our mailbox at home, or even in person (at a store or in a parking lot), scammers are getting more and more crafty in their approaches.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has only made their fraudulent schemes all the more believable; they can even reproduce the voices of those we know and love.

The good news is that because of the prevalence of fraud and the rise in warnings, our antennae are up and we are wary. It’s wise to stay as vigilant as possible in the battle against this ongoing threat.

We breathe a sigh of relief when we aren’t fooled, and we feel the sting of regret if we ever do fall victim to a scammer.

Unfortunately, there are still way too many nefarious individuals and groups out there intent on tricking us, stealing our hard-earned money, using our identity for ill-gotten gain, or otherwise doing their worst to take advantage of us—or of our loved ones, friends, and the clients we work with as REALTORS.

When it comes to one specific and potentially devastating form of fraud—home title fraud—NAR has just shared a resource with information focused on helping REALTORS serve as advocates for our buyers (especially) and sellers, pointing them to smart protective measures that can help them prevail in the ongoing fight against title fraud.

Here are the questions addressed and answered in the most recent Consumer Guide:

• What is title fraud, and how is it different from other scams?
• How can someone steal my home’s title?
• What are some red flags that could indicate title fraud?
• How can I protect myself from title fraud, especially when buying a home?
• What does title insurance do?
• What are some warning signs that I might be a victim of title fraud?
• What should I do if I think I’m a victim of title fraud?

In addition to providing good insights on fraud prevention, this guide also includes a basic summary of title insurance and its purpose that could prove insightful to those who aren’t familiar with it.

You can access the full guide at this link, and be sure to look for other NAR Consumer Guides in this series to help equip you with the latest facts.

The other guides released so far include Your Home and Estate Planning, Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction, Buying Land and Building a New Home, Written Buyer Agreements, Open Houses, What Veterans Need to Know about Buying a Home, Offers of Compensation, Seller Concessions, and many, many more.

Let’s stay safe, vigilant, and wary as we continue to help our clients navigate what for many of them is the largest, most complex transaction of their lives.

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.