Think It Can’t Happen to You? Real Estate Fraud Cost Victims $275M Last Year

by Eliana Block

Online real estate fraud reached alarming levels in 2025, with cybercriminals stealing more than $275 million from at least 12,368 victims—an increase from $173a million in 2024—highlighting a rapidly growing threat to the industry. The FBI reports that these crimes impact consumers and professionals across all age groups and experience levels, underscoring that no one in a transaction is immune. Fueled by increasingly sophisticated tactics such as AI-generated emails, impersonation schemes, and business email compromise targeting wire transfers, fraudsters are becoming harder to detect and more convincing than ever. With overall cybercrime losses exceeding $20 billion, the message is clear: real estate transactions are a prime target, and vigilance from every party—buyers, sellers, agents, lenders, and title professionals—is essential to verify instructions, protect sensitive information, and prevent costly fraud. Click HERE to learn more.

What the Latest FinCEN Guidance Means for Your Closings Today

Guidance from Investors Title Counsel

A recent FinCEN update provides important clarity for the title industry as the Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule remains on hold. While the rule originally took effect March 1, 2026, FinCEN has confirmed that no reporting is currently required while it appeals the federal court decision that vacated the rule. Even more significantly, FinCEN has stated that transactions closed during this pause will not be subject to retroactive reporting, removing a major concern for companies navigating this uncertainty. As a result, title professionals are no longer expected to identify covered transactions or collect reporting data at this time. Looking ahead, the pause is likely to remain in place throughout the appeals process—which could take months—though the rule could still return depending on the outcome. For now, the guidance offers temporary relief, but reinforces the need for the industry to stay alert as the regulatory environment continues to evolve.

AI Is Supercharging Fraud—And Banks Are Racing to Keep Up

Guidance from ProSight Financial Association

The OCC is warning that AI is a double-edged sword for banks, making fraud faster, cheaper, and more sophisticated—while also offering stronger tools to detect and prevent it. Criminals are using AI for advanced impersonation scams, automated attacks, and malware that can evade traditional defenses, raising significant concerns around cybersecurity and compliance risk. At the same time, banks are leveraging AI to strengthen monitoring and response, creating an ongoing “arms race” between attackers and defenders. The key takeaway: as AI rapidly reshapes the threat landscape, financial institutions—and their transaction partners—must stay vigilant, strengthen controls, and be prepared for increasingly sophisticated fraud risks. Click HERE to learn more.

Why Smart People Make the Same Interpersonal Mistakes Over and Over

by Laura Dabney, M.D.

Even the smartest professionals aren’t immune to repeating the same frustrating interpersonal mistakes—and this article explores why. It highlights how intelligence alone doesn’t protect against deeply ingrained habits, blind spots, and emotional triggers that quietly shape how we communicate, react, and build relationships. In fact, high performers can be especially prone to overconfidence in their judgment, making it harder to recognize patterns that undermine collaboration and trust. By uncovering the subtle behaviors and mindsets that keep us stuck in these cycles, the article challenges readers to step back, reassess their interactions, and consider what real self-awareness—and growth—actually requires. Click HERE to learn more.