Over the last several years, wire fraud has become an increasingly pervasive security threat.

With high-value transactions and the shift to online paperwork, the real estate industry is fertile ground for scammers. And those scammers are equal-opportunity, targeting buyers, sellers, lenders, and title insurance companies alike. 

The majority of real estate wire fraud occurs through business email compromise (BEC). In this scenario, a cybercriminal intercepts or impersonates an email account belonging to a real estate professional, lender, or title company. At a critical moment, such as the final hours before closing, the fraudster sends wiring instructions that appear legitimate but direct funds to a fraudulent account. Because closings are time-sensitive and involve unfamiliar financial processes for many buyers, these fraudulent instructions often go unquestioned and are simply complied with. 

Consequences in such cases are severe. Funds can be transferred and withdrawn within hours, making recovery difficult and, in many cases, impossible. While law enforcement and financial institutions can sometimes freeze accounts if notified immediately, success rates decline sharply after the first 24–48 hours. In addition to delays in closing and costly legal disputes, victims face enormous potential financial losses.

BEC Red Flags and Safeguards

Watch out for:

• last-minute changes to banking details or wiring instructions

• emails that look official but have slightly altered addresses or information

• pressure to act so quickly that you don’t have adequate time to verify

There are measures you can take to mitigate the risk. Best practices include things like: 

• verifying wiring instructions in-person or via phone (a verified phone number)

• avoiding last-minute changes to payment instructions

• refusing to act on emails that create a sense of urgency

Many brokerages and title companies today, in fact, provide written warnings and require in-person or verbal verification before releasing any wiring details. So don’t be surprised if your closing attorney sends instructions in two separate emails or requires you to speak with them directly for wiring information—they’re not being difficult, they’re attempting to safeguard your transaction.

Checklist

• Verify everything: call your closing attorney or agent using a known, trusted phone number to verbally confirm wiring details before sending any funds.

• Instructions should be communicated only between you and your closing attorney/title company.

• Work with agents who use secure, encrypted portals for sensitive documents.

• Call the bank immediately if you suspect fraud. 

Ultimately, vigilance is your most effective defense. As residential real estate transactions become increasingly digitized, understanding how wire fraud occurs and staying ever-watchful are essential to protecting yourself and ensuring a secure closing process.

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Robin

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