TL;DR: AI-powered deepfake scams are hitting real estate transactions across the country — and South Carolina reported $146 million in cybercrime losses in 2024 alone. Buyers and sellers in the Myrtle Beach area need to know what these scams look like, how they work, and exactly what to do before wiring a single dollar.
When Your Agent Might Not Be Your Agent
You're weeks away from closing on a home in Myrtle Beach. A video call comes in from someone who looks and sounds exactly like your title agent. They tell you the wiring instructions changed. You transfer the funds. The money is gone.
This is not a hypothetical. It is how deepfake fraud works — and it is happening right now in real estate transactions across the country. According to the National Association of REALTORS® Consumer Guide: Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate (2026), cyber-enabled fraud cost Americans $13.7 billion in 2024. Deepfake scams rose 40% year-over-year, based on data from the 2026 Identity Fraud Report by security firm Entrust. South Carolina was not spared — the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report (IC3) recorded $146 million in cybercrime losses in the state that year, an increase of $27 million from 2023, ranking South Carolina 22nd nationally by complaint volume.
For buyers and sellers navigating the Horry County market, understanding this threat is not optional. It is part of conducting a safe transaction.
What Are Deepfake Scams in Real Estate?
A deepfake is an AI-generated audio recording, image, or video that convincingly replicates a real person's appearance or voice. According to NAR's Consumer Guide on Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate (2026), criminals use this technology to impersonate buyers, sellers, real estate agents, attorneys, and title company representatives.
The goal is almost always the same: redirect funds.
In a typical scheme, a fraudster intercepts transaction communications — often through a compromised email account — then uses a deepfake to impersonate someone the buyer or seller trusts. The fake "agent" or "title officer" delivers new wiring instructions. The victim complies. By the time anyone realizes what happened, the money has moved through multiple accounts and is nearly impossible to recover. This type of attack is closely related to the broader pattern of wire fraud in real estate, which has been targeting Myrtle Beach transactions in multiple forms.
Beyond fund diversion, deepfake technology is also being used to:
Manipulate listing photos or virtual tours to conceal property defects
Fabricate the appearance of properties that do not exist
Create fake video verification to impersonate buyers in fully remote transactions
The Grand Strand market relies heavily on digital communication. Many buyers purchase properties in Myrtle Beach from out of state, without ever meeting their agent in person. That dynamic creates elevated exposure. The FBI's 2024 IC3 report recorded 9,359 real estate fraud complaints nationally, resulting in $173.6 million in reported losses — a category-wide increase of nearly $28 million from 2023. South Carolina accounted for 9,661 total cybercrime complaints in 2024, with residents aged 60 and older submitting 2,293 of those complaints and suffering $58.5 million in losses — the most financially impacted age group in the state. Separately, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) 2024 Crime in South Carolina Report confirmed that fraud offenses were among the tracked property crime categories statewide, even as South Carolina's overall property crime rate fell 11.8% from 2023 to 2024.
How to Spot a Deepfake Scam Before It Costs You
NAR's 2026 guidance on deepfake fraud identifies several clear warning signs and protective steps every buyer and seller should know.
Red flags to watch for:
Any sudden change in wiring instructions — especially delivered by email, audio message, or video call
A transaction participant who communicates only through digital channels and never meets in person
Urgency or pressure to transfer funds quickly, without time for independent verification
Slight visual or audio anomalies in video calls: unnatural blinking, audio that doesn't sync perfectly, blurred edges around the face
Verification steps that matter:
Before wiring any money, call the receiving party using a known phone number — not one supplied in the suspicious communication
Use encrypted messaging platforms rather than standard email for sensitive transaction details
Request multifactor authentication before signing documents or authorizing transfers
Consider using a third-party verification service — tools like CertifID are increasingly standard at closing
According to the FBI's 2024 IC3 report, the agency's Recovery Asset Team achieved a 66% success rate in freezing fraudulent wire transfers in 2024, recovering $469.1 million domestically. One documented case involved a buyer who received a spoofed email with revised wire instructions for a real estate closing totaling $956,342 — the FBI was able to freeze and return $955,060 of those funds after the buyer reported quickly. Speed of reporting matters enormously.
NAR also recommends investing in owner's title insurance as a layer of protection against record fraud, forged deeds, and fraudulent liens. Title policies are worth discussing with your agent and closing attorney well before settlement day. Consult with a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.
What Myrtle Beach Buyers and Sellers Should Do Right Now
The best protection is a clear process — agreed on before any transaction communication begins. This is especially important once a listing agreement is signed and formal communication between all parties kicks off. That is the moment when email chains, document sharing, and fund discussions begin — and when scammers look for their opening.
| Threat Type | How It Works | Protective Step |
|---|---|---|
| Wiring Fraud via Deepfake Video | Fake video impersonates title agent or attorney with new wire instructions | Verify by phone on a known number before any transfer |
| Manipulated Listing Photos/Tours | AI-altered images conceal defects or exaggerate features | Always tour in person; commission an independent inspection |
| Fabricated Property Listings | AI creates listings for nonexistent or unavailable properties | Verify ownership through title companies and public records |
| Email Account Compromise | Hacked email intercepts and redirects transaction communication | Use encrypted email; avoid free personal email accounts for real estate business |
Sources: NAR Consumer Guide: Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate (2026); FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report; SLED 2024 Crime in South Carolina Report
If you suspect fraud is occurring during a transaction, NAR advises immediately contacting all parties involved — your agent, attorney, and title company — so everyone can exercise heightened caution. Report the incident to local law enforcement and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. For buyers purchasing in the Myrtle Beach area from out of state, establish clear verification protocols with your agent before the transaction reaches the closing phase.
Deepfake technology is evolving quickly, and the stakes in a real estate transaction are too high to navigate these risks alone. South Carolina saw $146 million in cybercrime losses in 2024 — and real estate wire fraud is one of the fastest-growing categories nationally. If you have questions about how to protect a wire transfer, verify identities, or understand the closing process in Horry County, the team at Carolina Crafted Homes is here to help — get in touch before your transaction reaches that critical stage.
FAQ SECTION
Q1: What exactly is a deepfake scam in real estate? A deepfake scam uses AI-generated audio, video, or images to impersonate someone involved in a real estate transaction — such as a buyer, seller, agent, or title officer. According to NAR's 2026 Consumer Guide, these fabricated communications are most often used to redirect wire transfers, conceal property defects in listing photos, or create fake listings entirely. The technology has become convincing enough that a fraudulent video call can appear indistinguishable from a legitimate one.
Q2: How common is this type of fraud in South Carolina? South Carolina reported $146 million in total cybercrime losses in 2024 — up $27 million from 2023 — ranking 22nd nationally by complaint volume, according to the FBI's 2024 IC3 Annual Report. Nationally, real estate fraud generated $173.6 million in reported losses in 2024 across 9,359 complaints. Residents aged 60 and older in South Carolina filed 2,293 cybercrime complaints and suffered $58.5 million in losses — the most financially impacted age group in the state. The SLED 2024 Crime in South Carolina Report separately tracks fraud offenses at the county level through its SCIBRS system, confirming fraud as an ongoing category of concern across the state.
Q3: How do I verify that wiring instructions I received are legitimate? NAR's 2026 guidance recommends calling the receiving party directly using a known phone number — not one provided in the suspicious email or message. Any unexpected modification to wiring details should be treated as a red flag until independently confirmed by phone. The FBI's Recovery Asset Team achieved a 66% success rate freezing fraudulent wire transfers in 2024 — but only when victims reported quickly. Time is critical.
Q4: Are buyers purchasing Myrtle Beach homes from out of state at higher risk? Buyers who conduct much of their transaction remotely face elevated exposure. NAR's 2026 Consumer Guide advises against entering a transaction with someone who communicates only electronically and recommends in-person tours when possible. For the Horry County market, where a significant share of buyers relocate from other states, establishing clear verification protocols with your agent at the start of the process is especially important.
Q5: Does title insurance protect against deepfake fraud? An owner's title insurance policy can provide protection against certain outcomes of fraud — including forged deeds, fraudulent liens, and fake ownership claims — according to NAR (2026). It does not prevent fraud from occurring, but it can limit financial exposure if a fraudulent deed or lien is recorded against your property. Discuss coverage options with a licensed title professional before closing. Consult with a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Q6: What should I do if I think I've been targeted by a deepfake scam? Contact your real estate agent, attorney, and title company immediately so they can take protective action. Then report the incident to your local law enforcement and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. The FBI documented a 2024 case where a buyer's $956,342 wire transfer was almost entirely recovered after rapid reporting — speed is critical.
Sources
National Association of REALTORS® — Consumer Guide: Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate: https://www.nar.realtor/the-facts/consumer-guide-spotting-deepfake-scams-in-real-estate
National Association of REALTORS® — 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers: (Project file)
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center — 2024 Annual Report: https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division — 2024 Crime in South Carolina Report: https://www.sled.sc.gov/sites/sled/files/Documents/Crime%20Books/2024%20Crime%20in%20South%20Carolina.pdf
