Briana Ings
Chief Product OfficerIn this article
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought about many positive changes in the multifamily industry. From advanced fraud detection to instant ID Verification, AI has changed the way we approve applicants. But what happens when that same technology starts to be used for nefarious purposes?
Recently, generative models like FraudGPT pose new risks to industries dependent on accurate data verification, such as the multifamily industry.
FraudGPT refers to AI tools designed to generate fraudulent documents and data at a high level of sophistication, making traditional fraud detection methods ineffective. This is especially concerning for property managers who rely on documents like IDs, pay stubs, and bank statements to screen potential residents.
How FraudGPT Threatens Multifamily Housing
FraudGPT can easily enable applicants to create fake IDs, income statements, and other documents that appear authentic to the untrained eye. This can lead to residents with false identities and fraudulent financial histories slipping through the cracks and being approved for housing. Not only does this pose a safety risk for other residents, but it also puts property managers at risk of significant financial losses and reputational damage.
Specifically, FraudGPT can:
Create Realistic Fake Documents: AI-generated pay stubs, bank statements, and tax forms closely mimic real ones, making fraud harder to detect.
Enable Synthetic Identity Fraud: AI helps create fake identities that pass as legitimate, facilitating fraudulent rental applications. AI can also manipulate an image to enhance the realism of ID documents. These tools can adjust lighting, shadows, and textures in ID photos to make them appear more realistic.
Automate Fraud at Scale: Fraudsters can now submit multiple fraudulent applications quickly and efficiently.
The increase in remote leasing further exposes vulnerabilities in the screening process, which depends heavily on document authenticity. Accepting fraudulent residents leads to serious financial risks like evictions, delinquencies, and reputational damage, all of which can harm property managers’ bottom lines.
Solutions for Combating AI-Driven Fraud
To properly protect themselves, property managers and operators must utilize advanced fraud detection technologies.
Key strategies include:
AI-Powered Fraud Detection: Solutions like Snappt analyze document metadata and cross-reference data to detect subtle inconsistencies and edits that are impossible to detect with the naked eye.
Biometric Verification: Using biometric data in your identity verification process ensures that applicants are who they claim to be.
Third-Party Verification Services: Outsourcing to services that use AI can help detect fraudulent documents with higher accuracy.
Continuous Monitoring: Implement systems that monitor resident behavior after leasing to catch fraud early.
Staff Training: Educating leasing teams to recognize document tampering and new fraud trends is crucial. Routine training and updates can help your staff stay vigilant in identifying potential fraud.
It’s important to remember that no single strategy is foolproof, which is why a combination of different techniques is the most effective approach. By staying informed on new technologies and continuously adapting and improving your processes, you can stay ahead of fraudulent activity and protect your business from potential losses.
Looking Ahead
As AI-driven fraud becomes increasingly difficult to detect, traditional verification methods have started to fall short. Our industry must embrace advanced fraud detection tools to protect its operations.
Luckily, Snappt’s multi-layer fraud detection is the best in the industry for countering new threats posed by AI-generated fraud. Our advanced algorithms can analyze and cross-check documents for any discrepancies or signs of tampering, ensuring that only legitimate applicants make it through your process.
Chat with our sales team to learn about our comprehensive fraud solution