> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rentfax.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Detect rental fraud with AI-powered signals

> RentFAX automatically surfaces duplicate identities, shared address flags, and cross-operator incident patterns to catch fraud before it costs you.

Fraud in the rental industry often goes undetected because bad actors move freely between operators with no shared record. RentFAX addresses this by running automated fraud signals on every renter profile — checking for signs of identity duplication, suspicious address overlap, and cross-operator incident patterns. When a signal fires, it appears directly on the renter's profile so you can act before completing a transaction.

## How fraud detection works

RentFAX's AI Fraud Detector runs in the background whenever a renter is added to or looked up in the network. It does not require any manual configuration. The signals it checks include:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Duplicate identity detection" icon="copy">
    The system checks whether the same identity documents or identifying details have been registered under multiple accounts. Duplicate identity attempts are a common pattern in rental fraud.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shared address flags" icon="map-pin">
    When multiple renter profiles share the same address, RentFAX flags the overlap. Shared addresses can indicate synthetic identity rings or coordinated fraud attempts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cross-operator incident flags" icon="network">
    Incidents logged by other operators in the RentFAX network are surfaced on the renter's profile. A renter with a clean record at your organization but a significant history elsewhere is identified immediately.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Fraud Detector" icon="sparkles">
    RentFAX's AI layer analyzes patterns across the renter's full network profile — combining identity signals, incident history, and behavioral data — to produce a fraud assessment.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## The `fraudReported` flag

When the AI Fraud Detector or a cross-operator report determines that fraud is likely, a `fraudReported` flag is set on the renter's profile. This flag is visible to any operator who looks up that renter in the network.

**What `fraudReported: true` means:**

* A verified operator in the network has submitted a fraud report against this renter, or the automated system has detected a high-confidence signal.
* The flag is surfaced prominently on the renter's summary card and in the API response under `flags`.

**What `fraudReported: true` does not mean:**

* It is not a final determination of guilt. Renters retain the right to dispute records through the [Dispute process](/features/disputes).
* A single flag from one operator does not automatically result in a network-wide denial. The composite risk score and full incident history should inform your decision.

<Warning>
  Do not use a `fraudReported` flag as the sole basis for a denial. Review the full profile, including the incident details and the source of the flag, before making a rental decision.
</Warning>

## What happens when fraud is detected

<Steps>
  <Step title="Flag appears on the renter profile">
    The renter's profile is updated immediately. The fraud flag displays alongside other risk signals in the dashboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Risk score is affected">
    Active fraud flags contribute to the renter's network standing component of the risk score, which can lower the composite score and move the renter into a higher risk tier.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Network alert propagates">
    Because all operators query the same shared network, any operator who subsequently looks up that renter will see the flag. The network grows stronger with every reported incident.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Renter can dispute">
    Renters have the right to view their profile and challenge any flag they believe is inaccurate. Disputes are tracked in the Dispute Queue and visible to the renter through the Renter Portal. See [Manage rental disputes](/features/disputes).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Reviewing fraud signals on a profile

When you open a renter's profile, fraud-related information appears in two places:

* **Flags panel** — lists all active risk flags, including `fraudReported` and any address or identity signals.
* **Summary panel** — shows the `cross_operator_flags` count, telling you how many incidents were filed by organizations other than yours.

<Tip>
  Check the **Audit Log** regularly for unusual search patterns or spikes in fraud flags across your portfolio. A sudden increase in flagged renters can indicate coordinated fraud activity targeting your organization.
</Tip>

## Related pages

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Renter screening" icon="user-search" href="/features/renter-screening">
    How to search renters and read the full risk profile
  </Card>

  <Card title="Risk score" icon="bar-chart-2" href="/features/risk-score">
    How fraud signals feed into the composite risk score
  </Card>

  <Card title="Incidents" icon="clipboard-list" href="/features/incidents">
    Log the incidents that power network-wide fraud signals
  </Card>

  <Card title="Disputes" icon="scale" href="/features/disputes">
    How renters can challenge fraud flags they believe are incorrect
  </Card>
</CardGroup>