The seller who wasn't there: How deepfakes and deed fraud crash real estate deals
Organized fraud rings are targeting vacant land and absentee homeowners
by Nick Pipitone Jun 4
FBI Report: Online real estate fraud is on the rise to the tune of $275M
One of the factors shaping fraud in 2025 was the rise of artificial intelligence
by Christy Murdock Apr 14
California agent fesses up to $9M Ponzi scheme
Since 2018, Matthew Campbell allegedly used at least $2.29M in newly acquired investor funds to pay previous investors and keep up his scheme
by Lillian Dickerson Feb 11
Letitia James mortgage fraud case thrown out, but can be refiled
The prosecutor who filed charges against James and former FBI Director James Comey, interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed, a U.S. District Judge ruled
by Matt Carter Nov 24
'He didn't even say he was sorry': Brooklyn investor gets prison time for 12-year deed fraud scheme
Brooklyn investor Sanford Solny is facing up to 7 years in prison for defrauding 11 homeowners of the deed to their homes. Deed fraud is rising across the US, leading the FBI to issue warnings
by Marian McPherson Nov 14
Feds bust developers
Real estate developers Cody Holmes and Steven Taylor have been accused of defrauding a program that funds affordable housing projects and are now facing decades in federal prison
by Marian McPherson Oct 17
Oren and Alon Alexander denied bond as new lawsuit is filed
In bond court on Thursday, Oren pleaded with the judge to be allowed to be with his wife, who is nine months pregnant, when she gives birth. A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday
by Lillian Dickerson Dec 12
Alexander brothers charged with sex trafficking in fed indictment
The months-long legal battle the Alexander brothers faced against several women who alleged sexual assault came to a head on Wednesday with their arrests in the wake of an FBI probe
by Lillian Dickerson Dec 11
FBI raids Atlanta office of apartment operator Cortland
Investigators searched the company's office as part of an inquiry into alleged apartment price-fixing in the multifamily industry
by Ben Verde Jun 6
Here's how to stop a vacant land scam with a single email
Opinion
Security expert Robert Siciliano teaches you the 5 red flags for this scam and shows you how to put a stop to this type of real estate fraud with a simple and effective email response
by Robert Siciliano Oct 20
CertifID gets tougher on wire fraud with PayoffProtect
The company says its software locks down the typically manual process surrounding the payoff request with machine learning to verify the wiring instructions
by Craig C. Rowe Oct 11
Capitol rioter mistakenly shows attack plans in Zillow listing photos
Former Green Beret and Oath Keepers member Jeremy Brown is in hot water with the FBI after listing photos revealed the contents of his weapons arsenal
by Marian McPherson Nov 15
Title fraud cases surge 31% in Q3
In addition to title fraud, a new report by FundingShield also noted a 90% increase in state licensing issues between the second and third quarters of 2020
by Lillian Dickerson Nov 25
The biggest real estate crime, safety and court stories of 2019
Fraud, lawsuits, attacks and an attempted murder by the Hells Angles for El Chapo in 2019
Is a deal worth going to prison?
As lending standards loosen, the environment for fraud — and cautionary tales — returns
by Jim Weix May 1