Train agents.
Stop fraudsters.
endREF teaches real estate agents to spot fraud, save deals, and protect clients.
Founder Rich Hopen featured in…
One hacked agent compromised 12 deals.
In 2026, 12 connected fraud incidents in Florida and Georgia were traced to one agent’s computer. The fraudster accessed the transaction management platform and targeted buyers and sellers.
Fraudsters use AI to target agents.
Agents become unwitting participants
Fake meeting links, phishing, ready-made tools, and mailbox takeovers get fraudsters onto an agent’s computers. From there, they work every transaction as an insider.
AI scrapes MLS listings, ownership records, and social media to profile the agent's transactions in seconds.
AI voice cloning defeats “call to verify.”
AI deepfakes pass video verification.
AI enables one fraudster to create and send tailored attacks to thousands of real estate agents.
Numbers behind the threat
Fraud starts months before title gets involved.
The typical buyer spends 10 weeks searching alongside their agent before a file ever opens. Most sellers hire someone they already know and trust (NAR, 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers).
There is no title company, no escrow officer.
The agent is the only trusted professional who can see a fraud taking shape.
Six frauds a trained agent can help stop
I was a victim
In 2017, my wife and I sold our house in New Jersey. My attorney’s computer was hacked and our $239,000 mortgage payoff was wired into a fraudster’s account. I’m an agent and a lawyer, and it still happened.
Rich Hopen, Founder
Three ways agents get trained
01
Office Presentations
Live fraud prevention training delivered in brokerage offices.
02
Continuing Education Credit
A fraud prevention CE course, launching in New Jersey pending approval and expanding nationally.
03
endREF Certification
A verifiable credential that tells clients their agent is trained to protect them, launching nationally.
Join the fight
For Sponsors
Fraud kills deals your business depends on. Fund the training that stops them upstream, and put your name on the fix.
For Agents
Learn to spot the attacks aimed at you and your clients, and show them you’re trained to protect them.
Trusted voice on real estate fraud
Rich Hopen helped lead the national fight against real estate wire fraud: he presented at ALTA’s launch of the Coalition to Stop Real Estate Wire Fraud alongside a U.S. Senator and ALTA’s CEO, joined NAR’s industry and law enforcement roundtable with the FBI, ALTA, and the Mortgage Bankers Association at NAR’s invitation, and served on ALTA’s Wire Fraud Coalition advisory board.
“Rich is a fantastic collaborator. He advised us on a national Coalition to Stop Real Estate Wire Fraud. Rich exemplifies leadership traits that mobilize others to action. He’s smart, strategic, impassioned, empathetic, curious, and persistent.”
Justin Ailes
Former SVP Policy, American Land Title Association
“Rich is articulate and determined to get real estate brokerages focused on wire fraud. I’m impressed with his command of the topic and how to get others interested in the problem.”
Thomas Cronkright
Co-founder & Executive Chairman, CertifID
“Rich brings a combination you almost never find in one person: attorney, top-ranked commercial broker, residential agent, and founder. … He is always working to improve the real estate customer experience.”
Scott Nagel
Former President, Redfin
“We brought Rich in twice to train our agents and featured him on our podcast because his message matters that much.”
Jonathan Steingraber
CEO & Broker of Record, Signature Realty
