Digital Real Estate Scams: How Fraudsters Use Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many aspects of modern life, but it has also created new opportunities for fraudsters, particularly in the real estate sector. Below, we outline how criminals leverage AI to manipulate photos and documents and provide useful tools to detect these alterations.

Manipulation of Photos and Documents with AI

Creation of Fake Images

Real estate scammers use AI tools to generate hyper-realistic images of non-existent properties. These images feature precise details such as lighting, shadows, and perspectives, perfectly mimicking real photographs. This makes it extremely difficult to distinguish between authentic and fake images at first glance.

Document Editing

In addition to manipulating images, AI enables highly accurate modifications to documents. Fraudsters can create fake signatures that closely imitate originals, posing a significant risk in legal and contractual transactions. By learning the style of a signature, AI can generate fake versions that appear entirely authentic.

The Scam Process

The scam typically begins with enticing advertisements posted on real estate buying and renting platforms. Scammers showcase fake images of luxurious properties at incredibly low prices, drawing in numerous interested parties. Once potential buyers or tenants contact the alleged owners, the communication shifts to private messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram. There, the scammers request an upfront payment as a reservation deposit, often justifying this demand with claims of high demand for the property.

Tools to Detect Fake or Edited Images

To protect yourself from these types of fraud, it is crucial to use tools designed to identify manipulated photos and documents. Among the most notable are:

1. Forensically

   • Detects photo alterations such as digital retouching, noise analysis, and metadata or geolocation tags.

   • Identifies details like the use of the "clone" function in Photoshop and other editing signs.

2. Google Images and TinEye

   • Both perform reverse image searches. By uploading an image or providing a link, you can find similar images and verify if they have been edited or appear in other contexts.

3. FotoForensics

   • Specializes in analyzing images in JPEG and PNG formats to find evidence of retouching or alterations.

   • Allows sharing of analysis results on social media.

4. Image Edited? and Fake Image Detector

   • Use advanced techniques such as metadata analysis and Error Level Analysis (ELA) to detect whether an image has been edited.

5. Find EXIF Data and Izitru

   • Find EXIF Data: Provides EXIF metadata from photographs to help verify authenticity.

   • Izitru: Assesses image fidelity and provides credibility results.

6. InVID

   • Designed primarily to analyze videos, InVID also verifies the authenticity of images through metadata analysis, forensic filters, and copyright checks.

Recommendations for Protection

1. Avoid Advance Payments

   • Never make payments without solid and legally verified contractual guarantees.

2. Verify Information

   • Ensure that the information provided by the supposed owner is consistent and verifiable.

3. Visit the Property

   • Whenever possible, visit the property in person before making any transaction.

4. Use Verification Tools

   • Rely on the tools mentioned above to detect manipulations in photos and documents.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence has made real estate scams more sophisticated and harder to detect. However, with the use of the right tools and by following the recommendations outlined above, you can protect yourself from these manipulations and ensure secure and transparent transactions.

If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to contact Azimut.R.S. We’re here to help!