Wire Fraud Reminder for Real Estate Agents: Slow Down, Verify, and Call Before Wiring Funds

What should real estate agents remind buyers about wire fraud before closing?

Buyers should never assume wiring instructions are safe just because an email looks legitimate. Before sending any money, they should slow down, verify every detail, and call a known, trusted phone number to verbally confirm wiring instructions.

Wire Fraud Is One of Those Things We Cannot Get Casual About

Wire fraud is one of those real estate topics that deserves to be repeated over and over again.

I know it is not the most exciting thing to talk about.

It is not as fun as listing prep, marketing strategy, open houses, social media, AI tools, or helping buyers celebrate getting under contract.

But wire fraud is one of those risks that can completely devastate a buyer if everyone is not paying attention.

As real estate professionals, we are all moving fast.

Buyers are excited.

Agents are juggling showings, inspections, deadlines, appraisal issues, contract dates, lender updates, repair negotiations, and closing logistics.

Lenders are working through final approvals and funding timelines.

Escrow teams are managing file details, documents, signatures, payoffs, and closing instructions.

And fraudsters know that.

They are not waiting for the perfect moment when everyone is calm, organized, and fully focused.

They are looking for one small moment of distraction.

That is why wire fraud education has to stay front and center throughout the transaction, especially as buyers get closer to closing.

Why Real Estate Transactions Are a Target

Real estate transactions involve large amounts of money, sensitive information, multiple parties, and a lot of email communication.

That combination makes the industry a major target for fraud attempts.

Think about how many people may be involved in one transaction:

• Buyer

• Seller

• Listing agent

• Buyer’s agent

• Lender

• Title company

• Escrow officer

• Transaction coordinator

• Attorneys, in some cases

• Assistants or team members

• Inspectors, insurance contacts, and other vendors

  
  

That is a lot of communication.

It is also a lot of opportunity for someone with bad intentions to try to sneak into the process.

Fraudsters do not need to fool everyone.

They just need to fool one person at the wrong time.

That is why education matters so much.

A buyer who knows what to look for is much harder to trick than a buyer who assumes every email in the transaction is automatically safe.

The Biggest Reminder: Wiring Instructions Should Not Randomly Change

One of the simplest reminders I give agents is this:

Wiring instructions should never randomly change in the middle of a transaction.

If a buyer receives an email saying the wiring instructions have changed, that should immediately raise a red flag.

They should stop.

They should not reply to that email.

They should not call the number listed in that email.

They should not follow the new instructions.

They should call a known, trusted phone number they already have on file and verbally verify what is going on.

That phone call matters.

It may feel like an extra step in the moment, but it can be the step that prevents a devastating mistake.

Call Before Wiring Funds

The best advice I can give buyers is simple:

Call before wiring funds.

Not text.

Not email.

Call.

And the key part is this: the buyer should call using a known, trusted phone number.

That means a number they received directly from the title company earlier in the transaction, a number from the title company’s official website, or a number they have already verified.

They should not call a number from a suspicious email.

They should not assume the number in an email signature is correct.

They should not trust a number just because the email “looks right.”

Fraudsters are very good at making things look normal.

They can copy signature blocks.

They can mimic email formatting.

They can use names that look familiar.

They can make tiny changes that are easy to miss when someone is moving quickly.

That is why the phone call is so important.

Fraudsters Can Make Small Changes That Are Easy to Miss

One of the scariest parts about wire fraud is how subtle it can be.

A fraudulent email may not look obvious at first glance.

The logo may look familiar.

The signature block may look right.

The writing may sound close enough.

The timing may make sense.

But the details are where the problem usually shows up.

Fraudsters may change:

• One letter in an email address

• A phone number

• An extension

• A domain name

• A reply-to address

• The spelling of a name

• A bank account number

• Wiring instructions

• A signature block

  
  

That is why I always tell agents and buyers not to rely on appearance alone.

An email can look legitimate and still be dangerous.

Before wiring any funds, buyers should verify the instructions directly by phone.

The Sender Email Address Matters

One thing buyers should be trained to look at is the actual sender email address.

Not just the display name.

The display name might say a title company, lender, agent, or escrow officer’s name.

But the actual sender email address may tell a completely different story.

This is where people can get caught off guard.

They see a familiar name pop up in their inbox, they are in a hurry, and they assume it is safe.

But buyers need to slow down and inspect the details.

Does the email domain match?

Is there a misspelling?

Is there an extra character?

Is the reply-to address different?

Does something feel slightly off?

If anything feels unusual, the buyer should pause and call.

Agents Play a Big Role in Prevention

Real estate agents are often the most trusted person in the transaction for the buyer.

That gives agents a huge opportunity to help protect their clients.

This does not mean agents need to become cybersecurity experts.

It means agents should keep wire fraud reminders visible and consistent throughout the transaction.

A few simple reminders can go a long way.

You can remind buyers:

• At the buyer consultation

• When they go under contract

• Before earnest money is due

• Before closing funds are wired

• Anytime they receive wiring instructions

• Anytime they receive a strange or unexpected email

  
  

The goal is not to scare people.

The goal is to prepare them.

A buyer who understands the risk is more likely to slow down and verify before sending money.

A Simple Script Agents Can Use With Buyers

If you are a real estate agent, here is a simple way to explain this to your buyer:

“Just a quick reminder as we move through the transaction. Wire fraud is a real issue in real estate, so before you ever send funds, please call the title company directly using a trusted phone number and verbally verify the wiring instructions. Do not rely only on email. Wiring instructions should not randomly change, and if anything looks different or feels off, stop and call before sending money.”

That is simple.

That is clear.

And it reinforces the most important action step.

Call before wiring.

Why Repeating This Message Matters

I know agents sometimes worry about repeating themselves too much.

But wire fraud is one of those topics where repetition is a good thing.

Buyers are processing a lot during a transaction.

They are thinking about inspections, interest rates, moving, utilities, closing dates, insurance, packing, repairs, furniture, and everything else that comes with buying a home.

Even if you told them once, they may not fully absorb it.

That is why this message is worth repeating.

The closer you get to closing, the more important it becomes.

A buyer may be days away from getting the keys, excited and overwhelmed, and that is exactly when a fraudulent email can do the most damage.

Slow Down, Verify the Details, Call Before Wiring

If there is one takeaway from this entire conversation, it is this:

Slow down. Verify the details. Call before wiring funds.

That simple process can make all the difference.

Wire fraud prevention does not have to be complicated.

It just has to be taken seriously.

Before a buyer sends any funds, they should ask themselves:

• Did I verbally verify the wiring instructions?

• Did I call a known, trusted phone number?

• Am I sure the instructions did not randomly change?

• Did I check the actual sender email address?

• Does anything feel unusual or rushed?

  
  

If there is any doubt, stop and call.

How Chicago Title Colorado Helps Protect Transactions

At Chicago Title Colorado, we are constantly working to help protect buyers, agents, lenders, and transactions from wire fraud attempts.

This is something we take seriously every single week.

The reality is that fraud attempts are not going away.

If anything, they are getting more sophisticated.

That means real estate professionals have to stay proactive.

For me, part of being a strong title partner is not just helping agents get to the closing table. It is also helping educate, remind, and support everyone involved in the transaction before problems happen.

That includes having conversations like this.

It includes reminding buyers to verify.

It includes helping agents communicate clearly with their clients.

And it includes keeping wire fraud awareness part of the transaction conversation from start to finish.

Final Takeaway

Wire fraud is one of those reminders worth repeating often.

Not because we want buyers to be afraid, but because we want them to be aware.

In real estate, everyone is moving fast. Fraudsters are counting on that.

So slow the process down at the moments that matter most.

Before wiring funds, buyers should always call and verbally verify instructions using a known, trusted phone number.

One quick phone call can help prevent a devastating mistake.

If you are a real estate agent, lender, buyer, or seller and you have questions about title, escrow, or closing best practices, I am always happy to be a resource.

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