Class Valuation’s Vice President of Private Lending, Michael Tedesco, was recently featured in HousingWire with an eye-opening editorial on the growing threat of fraud in today’s lending environment.
In his article, “Fraudsters Never Sleep, and Neither Should Lenders,” Tedesco explores how modern scams, from AI voice cloning to digitally altered property photos, are reshaping the risk landscape for private and institutional lenders alike. He argues that while technology has made valuation faster and more data-driven, it has also created new vulnerabilities that demand vigilance, smarter safeguards, and stronger human connection.
“Fraud will evolve. That’s inevitable,” Tedesco writes. “The better question is whether the industry will evolve faster.”
The piece calls for a balanced approach—embracing AI and automation to detect inconsistencies, while never losing sight of the critical role that trained appraisers, human judgment, and direct communication play in protecting investors and communities.