Real Estate Wire Fraud Is on the Rise: How to Protect Your Closing Funds
By Meredith Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Amon.
Real estate wire fraud is one of the most devastating—and increasingly common—threats facing buyers and sellers today. Just this week, I was reminded of how real and close to home this risk is. An agent here on the Gulf Coast recently had a buyer fall victim to wire fraud. It wasn’t my transaction, but it deeply impacted their client, who lost over $130,000.
It happened when hackers intercepted email communication between the buyer and the title company. The buyer received what looked like a legitimate email with wiring instructions—only the account details had been manipulated. By the time the buyer realized the mistake, the funds were gone and unrecoverable.
This is not a one-off scenario. Real estate transactions are being actively targeted by sophisticated cybercriminals across the country.
How Wire Fraud Typically Works:
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A hacker gains access to a title company, agent, or client’s email through phishing or malware.
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They monitor email threads and wait until a transaction is nearing closing.
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At the right moment, they send fake wiring instructions that appear authentic—often using familiar language, email signatures, and sender names.
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The client wires the funds, unaware that they’ve been redirected to a fraudulent account.
How You Can Protect Yourself: Always Call the title company before wiring funds
Always call the title company before wiring funds. Never rely solely on email when it comes to wiring instructions. Confirm every detail by phone using a number you trust—not one provided in the email.
Here’s what I recommend every client do:
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Verify wire instructions with a phone call to the title company.
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Use only trusted phone numbers from your original documents or contract—not from an email.
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Be wary of emails that suggest urgency, last-minute changes, or new account numbers.
Hackers May Try to Impersonate Your Realtor—Including Me
Another critical tactic cybercriminals are now using is impersonating real estate professionals—sometimes even pretending to be me. These scammers can create email addresses that look nearly identical to mine, copy my signature, and mimic the language I use in messages. Their goal is to trick you into believing you're receiving legitimate wire instructions from your trusted agent.
Let me be absolutely clear: I will never ask you to wire closing funds via email or text message. If you ever receive an email—even one that appears to come from me—that includes wiring instructions or any request related to your financial information, stop and call me directly.
No matter how convincing the message looks, it’s always better to verify. I encourage all of my clients to speak with me personally before taking any action related to sending funds. I will gladly confirm details with you or connect you with your closing agent to ensure everything is legitimate and secure.
Protecting your money is just as important to me as protecting your property.
How I Protect My Clients:
While this incident didn’t involve me or my clients, I make it a priority to ensure every buyer and seller I work with is well-informed about wire fraud risks. I only work with professional, established title companies and provide you with a direct point of contact for any wire verification. If needed, I’ll personally get on the phone with you and the title officer to confirm everything before any funds are sent.
This kind of mistake is heartbreaking and preventable. Let’s take every step to make sure your hard-earned money—and your peace of mind—are protected.
If you ever have any doubts or questions, reach out to me directly before taking action.
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Meredith Amon
Gulf Coast Real Estate Advisor
Licensed in Alabama and Florida
www.searchthegulf.com
meredith@searchthegulf.com | (970) 389-2905
#searchthegulf #meredithamon #becausewelivehere
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