Criminals have another new target in South Africa
Criminals are now using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to orchestrate complex property scams targeting buyers, sellers, and tenants, especially in sectional title schemes.
This is the warning from the CEO of Fitzanne Estates, Pearl Scheltema, who stressed that the risks are growing rapidly as scammers use technology to create more convincing and targeted attacks.
“AI can generate fake property listings, forge official documents, and even produce deepfake videos of supposed owners or agents,” said Scheltema.
In South Africa, AI-assisted rental scams have gained traction. Fraudsters are creating realistic online listings using AI-enhanced photographs, often showing appealing properties that do not exist.
Unsuspecting tenants are then pressured into paying deposits or levies upfront, sometimes before they can view the property.
These schemes are dangerous because AI can also generate convincing identity documents and contracts, creating transactions that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Sectional title schemes, which involve multiple owners, trustees, and service providers, are becoming very popular targets.
Scheltema explained that scammers intercept levy statements and alter them so that payments are rerouted into criminal accounts.
“An email that looks like it’s from your managing agent, complete with AI-forged letterheads and signatures, can be incredibly convincing,” she warned.
For owners, this can result not only in financial loss but also in disputes with their schemes and disruption to community trust.
This new threat extends well beyond sectional title living. AI is being used in increasingly sophisticated ways across the wider property market.
There are reports of fraudsters using AI-generated images to make fake rental listings appear more appealing and legitimate.
Overseas, criminals have even used voice-cloning software to impersonate estate agents or attorneys over the phone, tricking clients into transferring large sums of money into fraudulent accounts.
Other popular tactics
South African estate agencies have also started seeing this trend emerge. Anton Jansen van Vuuren, Chief Operations Officer of Harcourts South Africa, noted that property scams pretending to be linked to the brand are on the rise.
“We have noted an increase in scams where fraudsters advertise properties, pretending to work for Harcourts. They often use platforms that do not verify the legitimacy of listings, like Facebook Marketplace and RentUncle,” he said at the end of 2024.
These platforms are popular because of their convenience, but their lack of stringent verification procedures makes them easy targets for criminals.
Scam listings often advertise properties at prices far below market value to attract maximum interest. Once a potential tenant responds, fraudsters usually apply pressure by stressing the urgency of payment, claiming the property is in “high demand.”
Victims are then instructed to pay deposits or fees quickly, often into personal bank accounts, under the guise of securing the property before someone else does.
Scheltema advised tenants, owners, buyers, and trustees to take proactive steps to protect themselves.
“Always verify payment instructions directly with a known contact, be wary of urgent requests for funds, and confirm that any property professional you engage is registered with the relevant authority,” she said.
For sectional title owners, she stressed that consistent communication and regular participation in trustee meetings can make communities more resilient to fraud.
Despite the rising concern about AI-driven scams, Scheltema was quick to note that technology itself is not the enemy.
“We use technology to streamline processes, improve communication, and enhance the security of the properties we manage,” she explained.
“The challenge is making sure technology serves our clients rather than criminals. That’s why trusted professionals are so vital; we know the industry, the risks, and how to put safeguards in place.”
With so many transactions and communications now taking place online, Scheltema noted that both owners and professionals need to adapt quickly.
For now, she added that the best protection for buyers, tenants, and sectional title communities is vigilance, backed by the guidance of trusted professionals.
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