With warm weather and no state income tax, Florida makes for a prime destination to purchase property. Yet, Florida’s burgeoning real estate market faces a growing problem of deed and property fraud, magnified by the development of AI and the state’s large population of vulnerable individuals, such as senior citizens. This has led some to name South Florida the “title fraud capital of the world.” 

According to 2025 statistics, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 12,000 real estate-related complaints, representing losses exceeding $275 million. These numbers reflect a profound problem in the United States and Florida that will only become more complicated as AI tools further develop, making deed fraud easier.

Methods to watch out for

Savvy fraudsters use publicly available information and AI tools to perpetrate their schemes, often targeting the most vulnerable property owners. Nonresident property owners, property owners over the age of 65 and owners in financial distress are the primary targets of deed and title fraud schemes, including schemes that utilize AI. 

AI deed fraud can affect any property owner, but fraudsters often focus on properties that are easier to exploit. Common targets include vacant homes, properties in blighted areas, homes that are not actively maintained, properties with delinquent taxes, properties free of liens and properties owned by individuals who do not live nearby.

If you or someone you know is part of a vulnerable population, it is especially important to stay up to date on common AI fraud methods. The most shocking of these methods is “Deepfake” impersonation and voice cloning. These tools have been used to replicate a person’s likeness to trick property owners into revealing sensitive personal information or signing fraudulent deeds or documents. 

AI tools are also used by fraudsters to forge signatures, deeds, closing documents and identification cards that would typically pass inspection by the naked eye. Other fraudsters will launch automated “phishing” and malware attacks through AI-generated, personalized emails and phone calls, which can give them access to passwords and financial information, making fraudulent deed transfers much easier. If a real estate transaction or communication feels suspicious, be sure to do your due diligence before proceeding.

Florida property owners face different levels of legal strife depending on the sophistication of the AI deed fraud method used by a fraudster. Deeds that are procured by fraud or forgery fall into one of two categories: “void” or “voidable.” 

Category 1: Void deeds

A deed that is void (or void ab initio) is one where the deed is void at its inception. When a fraudster uses AI tools to forge a deed or signature on a deed, that deed is void from the start. Void deeds do not create legal title in the fraudster or anyone to whom the fraudster conveys title. 

For an original property owner to recover the same title and rights to the property that existed before the fraud, the property owner must take legal action to “quiet title” in the property. While seemingly simple, this legal action may prove costly to the property owner who hopes to recover title to his or her property. 

Category 2: Voidable deeds

Alternatively, when a fraudster utilizes an AI Deepfake or phishing scheme to trick a property owner into conveying a facially valid deed, that deed is considered “voidable.” A voidable deed requires quick action because it may technically convey legal title to the property and provide protection to unsuspecting later purchasers of the property. 

The distinction makes legal recovery immensely more complicated and could prevent the original property owner from reacquiring title to the property. In some cases, fraudsters use an AI scheme to induce the transfer of title and subsequently sell the property to a bona fide purchaser, leaving the original property owner and an unsuspecting buyer at odds over the same property. The bona fide purchaser may have legal protections with respect to the property despite also being a victim of fraud themselves. 

This demonstrates the importance of proactivity in defending against AI deed fraud and protecting proper legal title in Florida. It is not uncommon to see litigation in which an unsuspecting purchaser obtains title to a property he or she purchased from someone who acquired it through fraud. In many of those instances, a court must determine who is the “least innocent party.”

Proactive protective actions to take

Florida property owners should be proactive and vigilant in protecting their property. Anyone purchasing a property in Florida should opt to buy owner’s title insurance, which typically requires a one-time payment at closing and can cover legal fees and financial losses arising from fraudulent title activity. Moreover, every Florida property owner should opt into their county’s free property alert service, which alerts property owners to attempted changes to their title 

In South Florida, Broward County is at the forefront of the ever-evolving fight against deed fraud. Specifically, in Broward County, Mila Schwartzreich, General Counsel and Director of Administration for the Office of the Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar, has noted that: 

“Timing is key. The first step South Florida property owners should take is signing up for the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Owner Alert system. After that, vulnerable property owners and their family members should stay vigilant for alerts. If an alert is received reflecting an ownership change they did not make, notify our office immediately for our Crimes Against Property Team to investigate.” 

Limiting deed and property fraud takes a focused effort from property owners, their families, local government agencies, and real estate professionals. Florida property owners should start making this effort as soon as possible. 

Evan Rosenberg is a Florida-based attorney who concentrates his practice on complex real estate and commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts. Ethan Marquis, a summer associate with the firm, assisted with the preparation of this article.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HousingWire’s editorial department and its owners. To contact the editor responsible for this piece: [email protected]. 

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