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The Next Wave of Fraud: Five Threats the Title Industry Must Prepare for in 2026
Over the past several years, the fraud landscape facing the title industry has evolved from opportunistic scams into coordinated, multi-stage attacks that exploit trust, communication channels and the precise timing of funds transfers. Despite historically low transaction volumes, cybercriminals continue to generate year-over-year gains in real estate fraud. Read on Thomas W. Cronkright II, co-founder and executive chairman of CertifID, highlights five fraud trends that pose the greatest risk to title and settlement companies in 2026.
Your 'Privacy' VPN Might Be Selling Your AI Conversations
Have you ever shared something deeply personal with ChatGPT or Claude? A health question you were too embarrassed to ask your doctor? Financial details while sorting out your budget? Work frustrations you wouldn't share with colleagues? You're not alone. Millions of people treat AI assistants with a level of candor they don't have with most humans. Read on as Genady Vishnevetsky, chief info security officer for Stewart Title Guaranty Co. and chair of ALTA's Information Security Work Group, highlights what's happening to over eight million users of popular browser extensions like Urban VPN Proxy.
Allied Capital Title Expands Reach in Indiana
Allied Capital Title LLC expanded its footprint in Indiana with the acquisition of Royal Title Services, which includes offices in Indianapolis and Lebanon.
Compass Completes Deal for Anywhere Real Estate
As part of the deal, Compass acquires Anywhere Real Estate’s title and settlement services companies. Anywhere operates more than 40 title and escrow companies in 43 states and Washington, D.C., and providing closing services in all 50 states.
NIAS Launches Commercial Network to Expand Service Capabilities
The NIAS Commercial Network provides participating title agencies with a framework for structured collaboration, ensuring that commercial transactions in unfamiliar jurisdictions are handled by locally based professionals.
Rezervology Releases Data Migration Software
Called RezeCore, this data migration software and service is designed to accurately relocate title file data from one title production software (TPS) platforms to another, while ensuring customers remain in control of their data.
MISMO Publishes SMART Doc V3 Power of Attorney Specification
The SMART Doc V3 Verifiable Profile allows document data to travel with the PDF and then be automatically verified with the document image, providing assurance that loan documents and associated data are consistent, reliable and unaltered. According to MISMO, the new specification applies SMART Doc V3 Verifiable Profile functionality to the power of attorney document, further enabling the seamless exchange of data and documents between trading partners.
Title Litigation Explained: Risks, Rulings and Real-world Impact
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET | Monday, Feb. 9 | Register Today
Lawsuits don’t just make headlines—they change the way companies do business. In this CertifID-sponsored ALTA Insights webinar, industry experts will break down the most important recent and ongoing lawsuits affecting title insurers, agents and settlement service providers. Designed for owners, executives, and compliance leaders, the session will explore what’s driving these cases, the potential operational and financial impact and what title professionals should be doing now to stay ahead of evolving legal risk.
Watch & Share: What You Need to Know About Seller Impersonation Fraud
They look like the owner. They have the right documents. But they’re not who they say they are. Fraudsters are impersonating property owners and illegally selling homes and commercial real estate. They're using real Social Security numbers, stolen driver’s licenses and legitimate notary credentials—sometimes without the notary’s knowledge. This video from ALTA breaks down the risk and what to do about it.
Webinar: Supporting the Seamless Exchange of Title Orders Using MISMO’s Dataset Specification
Currently, title orders are submitted through inconsistent channels, such as email, attachments and phone calls, leading to data gaps, errors and delays when ordering title information. Register for this Jan. 20 webinar to learn how MISMO’s Title Order Dataset Specification addresses the challenges caused by fragmented title order processes. Speakers will explore how the development of a new dataset will improve accuracy and consistency, enabling seamless integration with title production systems.
ALTA Reports Q3 Title Insurance Premium Volume
The title insurance industry generated $4.9 billion in title insurance premiums during the third quarter of 2025, according to ALTA’s latest Market Share Analysis. This is up 14.2% compared to the same period during 2024.
ALTA Updates Two TIRS State Compliance Guides
ALTA’s TIRS State Compliance Guides contain state-by-state regulatory and local practice material for entities establishing real estate title and closing operations. This resource is available for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Updates were recently made to the guides for Louisiana and Ohio.
ALTA Congratulates Latest NTP Designee
John Hall of Old Republic National Title Insurance Co. joined the list of title professionals who have earned their national title professional designation from ALTA. Click here for a full list of NTP designees.
Ardán Names Vice President of Enterprise Technology
Ardán Inc. announced Abram Pousada is rejoining the organization as vice president of enterprise technology. In this role, Pousada will lead Ardán’s enterprise technology function with responsibility for software engineering and product architecture.
Don’t Get Left Behind: Register for ALTA FinCEN Bootcamp
FinCEN’s Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule is no longer a distant “someday” problem: It’s quickly becoming an operational reality. The ALTA FinCEN Bootcamp returns this month with updated, practical guidance to help title professionals prepare for what compliance will actually look like in 2026. Join us virtually on Jan. 22-23. Register today!
2025 Third Quarter Title Insurance Industry Market Share Executive Summary
Title Insurance Industry Market Share and Financial Statement compilations for the 3rd Quarter of 2025 are now available on the ALTA website. The third quarter of 2025 was a positive quarter for the title insurance industry. Title Insurance Premiums Written were up 14.2% from the third quarter of 2024.
ALTA Insights: Navigating Mechanic’s Liens Coverage in Commercial Transactions
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Jan. 27 | Register Today
Mechanic’s liens can complicate even the most straightforward commercial transactions. This webinar will provide a practical overview of how to approach mechanic’s lien risk, what coverage is typically available under title insurance policies and the types of documentation that may be required. Register for this Data Trace-sponsored ALTA Insights webinar and walk through a sample fact pattern to see how these issues play out in practice and get a better understanding of how to identify, evaluate and manage mechanic’s lien concerns in a variety of commercial settings.
Practical Tips to Protect Funds from Fraud
Wire fraud has become the boogeyman of real estate transactions—ever present, always evolving and capable of unraveling deals in seconds. For title and settlement professionals, safeguarding client funds isn’t just a best practice—it’s a duty central to maintaining trust.
Banks Never Ask That
The American Bankers Association launched a national fraud-prevention campaign last year designed to help people recognize and avoid scams where criminals impersonate banks to steal money or personal information he site encourages visitors to “Snap out of it” when something seems suspicious and offers tools to improve scam-spotting skills, including interactive quizzes, videos and a game called Scam City that illustrate common deceptive tactics like fake emails, texts and calls.
Stewart Title Expands Florida Footprint
Stewart Title expanded its presence in Florida with the acquisition of Townsend Title Insurance Agency.
Meet Deirdre Green: Leading ALTA’s Education, Service and Impact
Behind every initiative, meeting and milestone is a group of dedicated professionals. This Team Spotlight series shines a light on the team members who work alongside you to protect, educate and promote the title industry. Today, we highlight ALTA Vice President of Professional Development Deirdre Green, who for more than 16 years has been a steady and trusted presence at the association.
WFG Forms JV With Gold Capital Partners
Williston Financial Group (WFG) and Gold Capital Partners formed Metro United Title and Escrow, a joint venture launching in Arizona with scheduled expansion into multiple states in early 2026.
True Title Appoints Associate General Counsel
In this role, Kerry Wofford will lead True Title’s in-house underwriting team and provide legal guidance to the company’s management team.
Kriss Law/Atlantic Closing & Escrow Merges With Pino Law Offices
The deal, which comes on the heels of Kriss Law/Atlantic Closing & Escrow late 2025 merger with DaMore Law and Green Mountain Lawyers, strengthens KL/ACE's market presence in the Greater Boston area and expands the firm's comprehensive real estate and related legal services,
Sun Title Appoints Director of Operations
In this role, Kara Chan will oversee all of of Sun Title's business units and segments of the operations, including residential and commercial.