In my 42 years working in real estate, I have seen plenty of changes in the way homes are bought and sold. But I have never seen real estate scams evolve as quickly as they do today.

That is why Cybersecurity Awareness Month matters more than ever this October. Criminals are now using sophisticated technology to target Minnesotans’ savings, identities and even their homes.

The numbers are alarming. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 32% more real estate fraud complaints in 2025 than it did in 2024. Reported losses jumped 59%, meaning that criminals are targeting property owners more successfully and that more is at stake. No Minnesota homeowner deserves to lose money or their home to a criminal scheme.

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These criminals aren’t just targeting businesses anymore; they are targeting average homebuyers and homeowners. Criminals have always tried to exploit large financial transactions, but what is different today is how easily technology can help them appear legitimate. AI, information readily available online and digital tools can help criminals create convincing emails, spoof phone numbers, imitate trusted professionals and even impersonate property owners.

The threat is showing up much more frequently. New data shows that nearly six in 10 title companies encountered at least one attempt by a criminal pretending to be a property owner in 2025. That’s double the number that reported seeing one just two years earlier.

What makes these schemes especially concerning is how convincing they can look and sound. Criminals are not relying only on obvious, fake emails anymore. More than half of title companies reported that they have encountered deepfake technology, including AI-generated voices and manipulated images that can make an imposter seem real.

Just last week, our systems detected that a consumer’s email account had been compromised and that communications were being intercepted from Russia. We immediately contacted the consumer and confirmed the breach. Quick action helped prevent the consumer from potentially losing several hundred thousand dollars. Most Minnesota families can’t afford to absorb such a loss on their own. It’s up to all of us to play a role, notice warning signs and be a part of the solution.

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What concerns me most after four decades in this business is not simply that criminals are trying more often. It is that these schemes are more sophisticated and convincing, and the old warning signs are becoming less obvious. A fraudulent email now looks polished. A phone number appears familiar. Someone may know your property address, closing date and names of everyone involved in the transaction.

Consumers have to adjust, too. If someone creates urgency or suddenly changes wiring instructions, slow down. Independently verify the information using a phone number you already know rather than one contained in the email or text you just received. Familiar information should never substitute for independent verification.

Minnesota homeowners should also keep an eye on their property records. Counties across the state offer free property-notification services that can alert owners when certain documents involving their property are recorded. I use this type of service for my own home because I want to know if something changes without my knowledge.

There are also new protections worth asking about. Post-closing coverage is available in Minnesota, which can provide protection against fraud and forgery after someone already owns their home.

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Title professionals have a role in this, too. Much of our work happens behind the scenes: researching ownership, resolving problems and looking for warning signs before a transaction closes. As criminals become more convincing, that scrutiny becomes more important.

No single technology or precaution will stop every criminal. The answer is layers: better technology, stronger verification, careful review of property records and consumers who are willing to stop and ask a question when something does not feel right.

That is the change I want Minnesotans to understand most. Fraud does not always look like fraud anymore. When your home or your life savings are at stake, taking an extra minute to verify something is never an inconvenience. It may be the minute that protects everything you have worked for.

Richard H. Welshons is Twin Cities manager at The Title Team, which provides title insurance and real estate related services for commercial and residential transactions throughout Minnesota.

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