Alliant National agents are proving to be a valuable vanguard against real estate crime
Although 2025 is barely a quarter old, independent agents have already been hard at work detecting, deterring and preventing fraudulent activity. At Alliant National, we’re proud to support these anti-fraud efforts through our Crime Watch program, which incentivizes agents with $1,000 rewards to be extra vigilant when closing transactions. Two suspicious transactions at two different title agencies recently highlighted why this is a powerful approach to combating fraud. The agents collectively averted almost $300,000 in proposed liability. Let’s look at what happened and the lessons we can glean from their experience to keep future transactions safe.
Fighting fraud at First International Title
Florida-based First International Title, Hunter’s Creek, recently prevented a suspicious transaction from going forward and protected its customers from financial loss. Escrow Officer Natia Johnson, who played a key role in stopping the bogus deal, shared with Alliant National how her office became aware the deal was likely fraudulent. The first red flag had to do with the transaction’s seller, who purported to be a dual U.S. and U.K. citizen living in the United Kingdom. By the time Johnson began working on the file, there had been no direct communication between the seller and her realtor. The two individuals had, instead, connected almost exclusively through a third party, who claimed to be an associate of the seller. When Johnson attempted to connect with this third party via email, she received no response.
The situation took an even stranger and more suspicious turn when the third-party representative called First International and told Johnson he was with the alleged seller in London. During the call, Johnson pushed to speak with the seller directly, yet this conversation only raised her level of concern. “She confirmed that her Social Security number was issued in 2007 and mentioned she is a naturalized citizen with dual citizenship,” said Johnson. “However, she also stated she does not have a current driver’s license or state ID, which is unusual.” Adding to the confusion, the seller provided the name and number of her supposed husband, who needed to also sign the deed. Yet he proved to be unreachable despite repeated calls from Johnson.
Johnson shared her concerns with her client, and that’s when the biggest red flag emerged. “I contacted our client to update them on the situation,” she said. “They mentioned Leonard had been present at the property just the day before and was reportedly still in the U.S. I asked, perhaps, if he flew to London just recently, but they stated ‘no, he is in Florida.’”
While all this was going on, further discrepancies were discovered with some of the seller’s documents. Their passport’s signature didn’t match the mortgage documents, which helped Johnson make her final judgement call. “This inconsistency, combined with the others, raised significant concerns about the authenticity of this transaction,” she said.
Tropics Title: Ensuring trustworthy transactions
Tropics Title Services is a second Florida-based firm that was recently recognized for its fraud fighting efforts. Regional Marketing Director Jean Thomas was immediately suspicious when a transaction came across her desk that was a vacant land deal, a cash purchase, involved foreign sellers, and included an urgent buyer—all quintessential hallmarks of fraud.
Not wanting to overstep the transaction’s agent, Thomas first reached out to the rest of her team and informed everyone what was going on. She next connected with the agent, who informed her that she had only communicated with the seller through email, which was another red flag. She then worked with her colleagues to request copies of the seller’s documents, which appeared inauthentic.
With suspicions mounting across Tropics Title, the team decided to place the transaction on hold until they could further verify the identities of those involved. Thomas reached out to Alliant National for help running further checks with the underwriter’s identity verification and fraud prevention tool, SecureMyTransaction. The link was promptly emailed out, but when the agency received no response after three attempts, it was concluded that the deal was likely fraudulent and should be canceled.
Collective effort is key to anti-fraud success
Whenever attempted fraud is discovered and prevented, it naturally provokes a range of reflections and reactions. For Johnson and First International Title, it reaffirmed how agents and agencies can’t afford to leave any stone unturned if something feels off during a transaction. “It was a stressful but rewarding experience,” she said. “It reinforced the need for vigilance, vigorously questioning any anomalies and, ultimately, trusting your instincts.”
Thomas and the rest of the Tropics Title team felt similarly. “I was relieved that I followed my gut, adhered to best practices and followed our tried-and-true policies for dealing with suspicious activities,” Thomas reflected. “Fraud is not going away in this industry, unfortunately,” she continued. “We must ensure that we thoroughly investigate any deals that carry sufficient red flags.”
Agencies, of course, should not be alone in this ongoing fight against fraud. The problem is a collective one, and therefore, mitigating it also requires a collective, collaborative effort between underwriters and agencies.
Whether it be with its Crime Watch program or by providing cutting edge tools like SecureMyTransaction, Alliant National is committed to being part of that solution. Johnson put it best perhaps when asked about how such programs can help the industry: “They can prevent fraud, protect homeowners and lenders, and safeguard transactions from financial and legal risks.”
Blum will focus on empowering the underwriter’s regional agents to grow their businesses.
Alliant National Title Insurance Company, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, is excited to announce that it has hired Christina Blum as Underwriting Counsel Southwest Region.
For over 11 years, Blum has been a fixture in the title industry. Her career began in 2013 when she worked in the claims center of a national underwriter. Starting in 2018, she served as underwriting counsel for two national underwriters and worked as a real estate and banking attorney for a large, regional law firm in San Antonio.
In her new role as Underwriting Counsel Southwest Region, Blum will focus on supporting Alliant National’s policy-issuing agents with their underwriting needs. This will include extensive research, risk analysis, and issuing insurance decisions, as well as creating and disseminating educational and underwriting materials.
“Alliant National is well-known in the industry for the unique support it offers independent agents,” Blum said. “Having the chance to join an organization like this during a period of rapid growth is an exciting opportunity. I look forward to navigating the evolving and challenging real estate landscape with the rest of Alliant National’s expert team.”
“Christina will be a major asset for our team and for our policy-issuing agents,” said Jean E. Bailey, VP, Regional Underwriting Counsel at Alliant National. “She brings significant experience that will enhance our operations, grow our footprint and assist our agents in addressing their most critical underwriting priorities.”
In addition to her professional roles and responsibilities, Blum is highly active in the title community. She is a member of the Louisiana Land Title Association and the Texas Land Title Association. On the latter, she sits on the institute committee, the legislative committee and acts as a local legislative liaison. In addition, she is part of the Oklahoma Land Title Association, the American Land Title Association and holds membership in the Commercial Real Estate Women, San Antonio Chapter.
Blum received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Elmhurst University and her Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University. She lives in the San Antonio metropolitan area with her family.
Alliant National supports its independent agents by combining expert residential and commercial underwriting with a passionate heart for service. The company delivers uncommon help that promotes the well-being of agents and the communities they serve.
About Alliant National Title Insurance Company Alliant National is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. Alliant National serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
Get more of your agency’s stories placed with these best practices.
In the history of marketing and public relations, few tools have been as important as media pitches. Historically, well-written pitches to journalists have been a reliable way to unlock earned media attention and publicity. Of course, pitching journalists in 2025 looks different than it used to. Rapid advancements in technology and shifts in the news industry have transformed the media landscape, rendering many of the old methods obsolete. Market changes in the news industry have completely reshaped media relations as well, creating new pressures for those who want to get their stories placed. Let’s break down how you and your agency can navigate this complex landscape effectively and start gaining more valuable coverage.
Pitching Journalists: A Brief History
To properly contextualize how you can effectively pitch journalists today, it can be helpful to take a brief look back at what was once best practice. In the 1980s and 1990s, media relations often relied heavily on cold calls and faxed press releases to reach journalists. In the 2000s, however, everything changed with the digital revolution. Emails replaced faxes. Press releases took a back seat to short, direct email pitches. And media databases streamlined distribution lists, making it easier to target reporters.
The rise of social media and content marketing in the 2010s caused further disruption, allowing professionals to engage with journalists directly and even promote their own social media content.
Media relations today
In the 2020s, things have once again changed. The explosion of digital publishing has constricted newsrooms and caused outright closures. Local press, for instance, has been decimated by these market dynamics, with over 3,500 local papers closing across the United States in the past 20 years alone.[i] As a result, the day-to-day work of contemporary journalists has changed dramatically. These professionals are under more pressure than ever, having to wade through a larger number of stories due to there being far fewer outlets overall.
How to Break Through
Considering such pressures, businesses must be strategic about how they pitch to journalists if they want to break through and gain valuable media attention. Here are some of the top ways to do just that:
Personalization: Tailoring your pitches and personalizing them to journalists is essential to gaining traction for stories. While PR pros have been personalizing their pitches for years, past methods were often time-consuming and inefficient. New technology like AI has changed the game. AI-powered databases can analyze journalists’ past work to find the best matches for your story. AI tools can also be deployed to optimize subject lines, refine body copy, and enhance follow-ups.
Invest in Relationships: Successful PR efforts still often hinge on building strong relationships with journalists. This can sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Start small by doing your homework and reading different journalists’ work. That way, you can reference previous stories when pitching and explain how your piece fits well with their journalistic interests. Then, engage with them on social media to further the relationship by commenting on or sharing their work. Additionally, attending events or webinars where journalists are speaking can foster organic connections and meaningful conversations.
Keep It Short and Simple: It may seem like common sense, but when reaching out to journalists in 2025, brevity is key. Your letter must be short, snackable and ideally scannable. Also, don’t forget that any communication you send must be mobile-friendly.
Newsjacking: One effective way to raise the attractiveness of your pitch is to leverage existing media cycles or news trends. This technique is called “newsjacking,” and it requires just a few simple steps. First, monitor relevant news topics with a digital tool like Google Trends or BuzzSumo. When you spot a trend that aligns with your priorities, craft your pitch and center your unique expertise at the heart of the story. Finally, get it out as quickly as possible by sending a short, punchy note to journalists who are covering the news trend.
Follow-Up: As we’ve discussed, many journalists today are completely overwhelmed by the volume of pitches they receive daily. You can elevate your chances of getting a story picked up by following up. Don’t simply send a canned follow-up email, though.Basic follow-up messages are likely to be ignored. Instead, focus on providing a fresh angle or new data to supplement your initial pitch.
Pitch Effectively in 2025 and Beyond In the battle for attention in today’s economy, businesses of all stripes, including title agencies, must leverage earned media to stay competitive. But gaining coverage from respected journalists is not easy, especially given the evolving nature of news business. You can increase your chances of success by incorporating the best practices we’ve discussed here. By doing so, you’ll engage with journalists on their terms, maximizing your chances
In the battle for attention, here’s how your agency can stand out.
Our current media moment is defined by paradox. On one hand, there have never been more channels you can use to promote your agency. But on the other, it has never been harder to separate yourself from the crowd and gain media attention. There are multiple reasons for this, including information overload and a changing media landscape. This doesn’t even account for how algorithms prioritize content, preventing many important stories from gaining the coverage they deserve. Yet amidst these challenges, an effective use of earned media can break through the clutter and increase public awareness for your agency. Join us as we explore the details of what this looks like!
Earned media: what is it and why is it important?
As we’ve talked about before, there are many different types of media that you can use to promote your business – each with its own pros, cons and tradeoffs.
First, there is owned media, which is any type of media that you control. This could include things like your website, your social media feeds or your email newsletter. Owned media offers advantages like creative control and cost-effectiveness but also requires continuous effort and delivers slow results.
Second, we have paid media – basically media you put an ad spend behind, like search, social and display ads. Paid media also carries significant advantages for business. For one thing, it can deliver quick and easy wins for a company, but if you’re not careful, those results can come with a sizable cost that harms overall ROI.
Lastly, we have earned media – publicity you gain from sources you neither control nor pay for. Guest blogging, podcast appearances and press release placements are all examples of earned media in action. Earned media is especially valuable because it often appears more trustworthy and less self-serving than other types of media. It can also deliver tangible benefits like improved SEO and greater reach. It has drawbacks as well, with lack of control and dependence on third parties being among them.
Create more earned media opportunities
With an understanding of the three main types of media, we can look at the top opportunities for generating more earned media coverage for your agency.
Human-interest stories: If you’ve ever watched the news, you’ll know how effective human-interest stories are at generating coverage. The reason is simple: People are emotional beings who respond to stories of human triumph and resilience. By tapping into this need, agencies can grow awareness for their businesses.
Novelty: Stories that introduce something novel can be just as effective as human-interest pieces. Pitching about new hires, products or business expansions all naturally lend themselves to potential pick-up in the media, as does staking out a position that runs contrary to the dominant perspective in your field. With the latter point, however, never try to gin up controversy just for the sake of it. People can detect disingenuousness a mile away, which will wind up hurting rather than helping you in the long run.
News jacking: As we’ve discussed, there are more communication channels today than ever before. While this can be overwhelming, it also implies that there is no shortage of news stories in which a title agency could insert itself to offer its unique perspective and expertise. This is known as “news jacking,” a straightforward process where you strategically align your brand with a trending news topic and position yourself as a subject matter expert. When done correctly, news jacking can increase your agency’s credibility, leading to more customers seeing you as a knowledgeable thought leader.
None of these techniques are easy to pull off, but each can help you overcome some of the barriers to entry that exist in the modern media landscape. No matter how many algorithms or communication channels we create, tailoring our stories to cater to human psychological needs will always be a powerful tool for achieving publicity. Similarly, news jacking can help you turn the deluge of daily news we all experience to your advantage, enabling you to hop onto an existing story or news cycle for maximum impact.
Spread the word far and wide about your business
The media environment today is challenging and ever-changing, with contours that are far more complex and fast-moving than they were even a few years ago. For many, this can feel like an impossible burden for gaining the recognition they need to succeed in an already difficult business environment. Even so, a well-planned earned media strategy that leverages human psychology and timely news opportunities can elevate your agency’s visibility, building the buzz necessary for both short- and long-term success.
Longmont, CO — Alliant National Title Insurance Company, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, is pleased to announce the hiring of Ryan Martinez as Vice President, Southeast Regional Underwriting Counsel.
Martinez is a highly skilled legal professional with significant experience in real estate and title insurance. He got his start as a foreclosure and title attorney in Atlanta. He then worked as both an associate litigation and a closing attorney, where he handled residential and commercial transactions. Later, he was a supervising attorney for title and REO operations at a creditor’s rights firm. He most recently served as an underwriting counsel for a national underwriter.
Martinez will have a variety of responsibilities in his new role at Alliant National. He will primarily focus on handling underwriting requests from policy-issuing agents in the region. This will involve offering his advice on underwriting matters while also ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.
“I am thrilled to join Alliant National, as the company’s commitment to innovation and service aligns perfectly with my own values,” said Martinez. “Together with our talented team, we will enhance our underwriting processes, ensure agents receive exceptional support and grow our organizational footprint throughout the Southeast. The future is bright for Alliant National. I can’t wait to embark on this journey with such an outstanding organization.”
“It is a privilege to add an accomplished professional like Ryan Martinez to our Alliant National team,” said Jeff Stein, Chief Underwriting Counsel at Alliant National. “Incredibly experienced, knowledgeable and collaborative, Ryan is the ideal person to take on this critical role within our organization. Agents and partners only stand to gain from his hiring, and I am supremely confident in his ability to help us drive mutual success.”
Outside of his work, Martinez is highly active in the title community. He is currently a member of the Tennessee Land Title Association (TLTA), where he serves as Education Committee Chair. He also holds membership in the North Carolina Land Title Association (NCLTA) and the Southeast Land Title Association (SLTA), and is a member of the Bar in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
Martinez obtained his undergraduate education at the Georgia Institute of Technology and received his Juris Doctor from the Florida Coastal School of Law.
Alliant National supports its independent agents by combining expert residential and commercial underwriting with a passionate heart for service. The company delivers uncommon help that promotes the well-being of agents and the communities they serve.
Alliant National is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. Alliant National serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
This blog contains general information only, not intended to be relied upon as, nor a substitute for, specific professional advice. We accept no responsibility for loss occasioned to any purpose acting on or refraining from action as a result of any material on this blog.
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