How to Detect and Prevent AI-Driven Phishing in the Conveyancing Industry

The conveyancing industry, rife with sensitive transactions and high-value deals, has become a prime target for cybercriminals leveraging artificial intelligence. By weaponising generative AI, attackers are crafting phishing attacks that are not only convincingly realistic but also highly specific. With fraudulent schemes targeting solicitors, clients, and property buyers, the stakes in conveyancing have never been higher.

This Blog explores how AI-driven phishing attacks are threatening the conveyancing industry, the tactics used by attackers, and, most importantly, what preventative measures you can implement today to stay safe.

AI-Driven Threats in Conveyancing

Generative AI empowers cybercriminals to craft phishing emails and messages that are tailored to their victims and free from the usual red flags like poor grammar or generic greetings. That level of personalisation is dangerous in conveyancing, where trust and timely communication are key.

A Typical Risk Scenario

Imagine this situation. A client is in the final stages of purchasing a property. They receive an email from what appears to be their solicitor, referencing their case file number and including bank details for the final payment transfer. The email looks professional, the tone matches previous exchanges, and everything checks out on a surface level.

But unbeknownst to the client, the email is fake. Cybercriminals have leveraged AI to scrape data from the firm's website, emails, or social interactions, crafting a message so convincing it bypasses the client’s suspicion. The client unknowingly transfers their deposit to a fraudulent account, potentially losing tens of thousands of pounds.

Vulnerabilities in the Process

The conveyancing industry’s fast-paced, transactional nature makes it particularly vulnerable. Common touch points where AI-driven phishing attacks might exploit weaknesses include:

• Client-Solicitor Communications: Fraudulent emails impersonating solicitors with urgent payment requests under strict deadlines.
• Altered Payment Details: Cybercriminals intercept email threads and insert revised bank account numbers just before funds are sent.
• Falsified Document Links: Fake portals or links claiming to contain legal documents for review, often leading victims to enter credentials that are then harvested.
• Impersonated Buyers or Sellers: Deepfake voice or video calls mimicking a solicitor or client, requesting that workflows are expedited or sensitive information is shared.

New Tactics in AI-Powered Phishing

AI enables attackers to evolve. Here are some of the latest tactics used in the context of conveyancing:

1. Deepfake Voice Manipulation: A solicitor’s voice is cloned using audio from phone calls or public appearances. Attackers can call clients and sound authentic while issuing fraudulent instructions.

1. Browser-in-Browser Attacks: Fake login windows for conveyancing portals appear within a browser, tricking users into thinking they are securely logging in. This technique helps bad actors capture credentials.

1. Embedded QR Codes (Quishing): Criminals send QR codes that direct users to counterfeit conveyancing systems or simulated client portals to extract payment details.

1. Text Obfuscation: Emails or payment links include hidden unicode characters that trick email filters while appearing harmless to human readers.

The Cost of Falling Victim

The financial implications of AI-driven phishing in conveyancing are substantial. From losing client funds in fraudulent transfers to incurring fines for regulatory breaches, the potential for financial loss is vast. Beyond immediate costs, the reputational damage is significant. Clients trust solicitors to safeguard their transactions, and a single incident can erode that trust for years.

Yet, the truth is clear: these attacks are preventable with the right measures in place.

Proactive Steps for Safeguarding the Conveyancing Sector

Here’s how solicitors, clients, and conveyancing firms can protect themselves against AI-driven phishing attacks:

1. Verify All Payment Requests

One of the simplest, yet most effective, measures is to always verify payment details through an independent channel. If a client receives an email requesting payment, they should call their solicitor directly using publicly listed numbers—not the ones in the email.

Actionable Tip: Implement a policy where solicitors regularly remind clients never to act on unsolicited updates to bank account details without confirmation.

2. Adopt Advanced Email Security

Emails are the primary vector for phishing attacks. Use AI-powered anti-phishing solutions that continuously monitor email interactions for anomalies. These tools can detect unexpected changes in tone, writing style, or unusual sender behaviour indicative of generative AI manipulation.

3. Encrypt and Authenticate Communications

Email encryption and protocols like DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are crucial to preventing phishing attempts. These measures authenticate that an email is legitimate and hasn’t been tampered with en route to its recipient.

To Strengthen Security: Rotate cryptographic credentials regularly to minimise the risk of compromise.

4. Leverage AI for Threat Detection

Conveyancing firms should fight fire with fire. Employ AI-enhanced cybersecurity tools that analyse communication patterns and sender behaviours. These systems can flag subtle, suspicious deviations in real time.

Example: If a client receives a payment instruction from someone claiming to be their solicitor, a system powered by AI anomaly detection could immediately flag this for review if it finds mismatches in usual email signature formatting or timestamps.

5. Client Education is Essential

Your clients don’t live in a cybersecurity bubble. Many are unaware of the sophistication of phishing attacks, making them easy targets. Provide clear guidelines outlining common scams, warning signs, and the importance of vigilance when actioning requests.

Practical Idea: Use onboarding to educate clients. Send them a simple, jargon-free guide on how to spot fraudulent communication during their transaction.

6. Simulate Phishing Attacks

Conduct phishing simulations in-house to test your team’s readiness. Use real-world scenarios, such as fake solicitors emailing payment requests, to train staff on how to handle phishing attempts effectively when they occur.

Insight: Make it a regular practice, so employees stay sharp and adapt to changing techniques.

7. Develop Incident Response Teams

Even with preventative measures, incidents happen. Having a trained response team equipped to handle phishing incidents can significantly speed up containment and mitigate damage.

Action Plan: A designated security unit should handle suspicious emails immediately, isolating them before they can cause fallout.

Concluding Thoughts

The conveyancing industry’s heavy reliance on secure communication makes it an attractive and vulnerable target for AI-driven phishing attacks. But this doesn’t have to spell chaos. By understanding the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, adopting advanced security systems, and practising rigorous verification protocols, businesses in the sector can stay one step ahead.

At the heart of it all is the need for vigilance. Whether you’re a solicitor, a firm, or the client, safeguarding property transactions from AI-powered cybercriminals should be a top priority. Take action now, because once trust and funds are lost, recovering them becomes infinitely harder.

When it comes to your firm’s cyber defences, prevention isn’t just better than cure; it’s essential for survival in the modern conveyancing landscape.