Power Up Your Defences: 5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Real Estate Fraud & Scams

Real estate professionals are no strangers to high-stakes transactions — but in recent years, the stakes have grown even higher. Real estate scams are becoming more sophisticated, and the cost of a single mistake can be devastating for you, your clients, and your reputation.

In the 2023–24 financial year, 255,100 Australians (1.2% of the population aged 15+) experienced identity theft — a sharp reminder that fraud isn’t rare.

In just the first half of 2024, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) recorded 527 data breaches — the highest number in three and a half years.

The good news? You have a secret weapon built into Forms Live — Verification of Identity (VoI), powered by Scantek.

With the right know-how, VoI can act like a digital shield, stopping scammers before they even get close.

Here’s how to activate your team’s VOI superpowers and protect yourself from real estate fraudsters.

1. Verify Every Client’s Identity Before You Start

It’s your first and most important line of defence is identity verification. VoI confirms that every buyer and seller is exactly who they claim to be — no imposters, no surprises.

The Australian Institute of Criminology found that 31% of Australians have experienced identity crime in their lifetime, and 20% in the past 12 months.

Verify Buyers Before You Send a Contract

Scenario: You're a sales agent and have just met a buyer at an open inspection. Before issuing a contract or agency agreement, verify their identity directly through Forms Live — using three-points of reference (like a licence, Medicare card, bank statement or passport).

Enabled Form: Contract of Sale Cover Page

Advantages Acquired:

• Prevents identity fraud before it escalates

• Creates a secure digital trail

• Keeps your workflow compliant without additional tools

With Forms Live + Scantek VoI, you can verify IDs remotely, securely, and in compliance with industry standards — no manual checks, no unsecured email chains.

2. Use VOI Technology to Stop Fraud Before It Starts

Scammers don’t just steal identities — they go after the data you hold. Every document you email or store insecurely is another opportunity for a breach.

By collecting only what’s essential and storing it securely in Forms Live, you significantly lower your risk profile.

VoI Within the Sales Agency Agreement

Scenario: You're signing an exclusive listing agreement with a vendor. You can VoI your client at the same time as signing the Exclusive Residential Sales Agency Agreement.

Risks Averted:

• Vendor impersonation

• Signature disputes later down the track

• Compliance gaps that can lead to legal exposur- One in five identity crime victims in the past year experienced direct financial loss. Building trust from the listing appointment protects both you and your vendor.

3. Keep Your Property Documents Secure and Encrypted

Fraud attempts often come with small red flags: inconsistencies in paperwork, reluctance to provide ID, or urgent demands to skip steps.

With VoI integrated into your workflow, every verification step is tracked, timestamped, and stored — making it easier to spot anomalies before they escalate.

Secure the Entire Contract Signing Flow

Scenario: You're preparing a residential or rural contract for signature.

Enabled Forms:

• Residential Contract

• Rural Contract

Not only can you collect signatures, but you can verify exactly who is signing — before the deal progresses- Just as you wouldn’t hand over the keys without checking ID, you shouldn’t sign a contract without VoI.

4. Watch for Red Flags in Property Transactions

Even the best tools need skilled operators. Make sure your whole team understands why VoI matters, how it works, and what real estate scam red flags to watch for.

From your newest admin to your most experienced agent, training ensures your whole team can move quickly and confidently when something feels “off.”

Use Scantek to Strengthen Every Verification

Forms Live + Scantek integration strengthens your VoI workflow by:

Once the identity is verified:

• Issuing a certificate showing exactly what was checked.

• Flagging criteria that weren’t met.

• Storing all details with the form for full audit visibility.

Perfect for high-value properties or vendors who want added reassurance- With names being the most commonly misused personal information in scams, every verification step matters.

5. Partner with Trusted Technology Providers like Scantek

When VoI is built into every transaction, you eliminate the “optional” factor. It becomes a natural part of your process — just like signing a contract or holding a title search.

Why Keep VoI in One Platform?

Advantages Acquired:

• VoI and signing live side-by-side.

• Real-time VoI status updates from your sidebar.

• Traceable workflows with no gaps for scammers to exploit.

The more consistent your process, the harder it is for scammers to find a weak link- Scammers love messy processes. Keeping your workflow streamlined and secure shuts them out.

Stay Safe in Real Estate with Smart Fraud Prevention Tools

You don’t need a third-party app. You just need to turn on the tools already in your hands — and protect every deal, every time.

VoI Action Checklist:- VoI every buyer before issuing a contract- Trigger VoI in Sales Agency Agreements- Use Scantek for full-spectrum verification- Track VoI status from within the form- Keep everything compliant — and in one secure place

Activate Your VoI Superpowers

Forms Live VoI, powered by Scantek, gives you everything you need to shield your business from identity crime and real estate scams.

• Remote, secure verification.

• Industry-compliant process.

• Fully integrated with your existing Forms Live workflow.

Your mission starts now — and you already had the tools to win.

Check out our VoI Help Guide to unlock the full power of VoI and start building a setup that actually works for your team.