Deepfakes Target Real Estate: A $100K Near-Miss

A Maryland vacant land sale nearly fell victim to deepfake fraud when AI was used to impersonate the property owner during a live video notarization session. The $100,000 attempt was caught by identity verification platform Proof, spotlighting growing vulnerabilities in remote real estate transactions. Tech-enabled fraud hit $13.7 billion in 2024, with deepfake scams rising 40% year-over-year. Experts warn that commercially available software makes deepfakes easy to create, often in minutes. Proof CEO Pat Kinsel urges real estate professionals to add identity verification at every transaction stage, noting fraud is also returning to paper channels. The company uses real-time video scanning, device data analysis, and cryptographic digital identities to stay ahead of evolving threats.