The real-estate closing wire fraud

A scammer impersonates someone in your real-estate deal and tricks you into wiring money to the wrong account right before closing.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z

How it works

You're near the end of buying or selling a home when you receive an urgent message (email, text, or call) that looks like it came from your lawyer, title company, or real-estate agent. The message tells you exactly how much to wire and where, and creates pressure by saying the closing is happening today or tomorrow. The sender's contact information looks almost right, but it's subtly off.

What it can look like

You get an email that appears to be from your title company with wiring instructions and an urgent deadline. You wire tens of thousands of dollars to the account listed. Only when you contact the real title company directly to confirm do you learn the email was fake—and your money is gone.

How it unfolds

Scams like this follow a pattern. Knowing the arc helps you notice where you are — and step away before the ask.

You're buying a home. Days before closing, you get an email that looks like it's from your title company or real-estate attorney. It has the right logo, similar email address, and urgent tone about wire instructions for your down payment or closing costs.

The email feels official and time-sensitive. You may call a number in the email (which is not the real company's main number) or reply directly. The person on the phone or in follow-up messages sounds professional and answers questions about your transaction—details they've learned from public records or earlier conversations.

You're asked to wire money to a bank account right away, often with a warning that delays could kill the deal or cost you the house. You're told to keep it confidential or to send the wire directly without telling your real estate agent or lender.

STOP HERE: Legitimate closing teams always verify wire instructions through a phone call to a number you find independently (your agent's business card, your loan documents, the title company's main website). They never pressure you to hide the transaction or rush without verification. If something feels off or you haven't independently confirmed the wire recipient, pause and call your real estate agent or lender directly using a known phone number.

Red flags

A sudden, urgent request for wire instructions via email or text instead of in-person conversation
A slight change in email address, phone number, or company website from what you were given earlier
Pressure to wire money immediately and pressure not to verify the request with anyone else
A request to wire to an account you haven't been told about before, especially a personal or out-of-state account
Inconsistencies in tone, spelling, or formatting compared to earlier official communication

What to do

Always verify wiring instructions by calling your lawyer, real-estate agent, or title company directly using a phone number you find independently—never use a number in the suspicious message.
Ask to meet in person or use a secure video call to confirm wire details before sending any money.
If you discover you've been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report the fraud at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

If it already happened

Acting quickly can limit the damage. You are not alone, and it is not your fault.

Stop all contact with the sender immediately. Do not send any additional information or money, and do not respond to follow-up messages.
Contact your bank or financial institution right away—tell them you may have been targeted by fraud. Ask if the wire can be recalled or frozen. Time matters here; act the same day if possible.
Gather and keep all emails, messages, phone numbers, and account details from the scam attempt. Take screenshots and note dates and times of contact.
Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and also report it to your state's real-estate commission and local law enforcement.

Sources

Guidance on this page draws on public, authoritative consumer-protection resources (verified live 2026-07-10). Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z.

Spotted this or lost money? Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. This is general educational information, not legal or financial advice — and ScamVet never asks for your identity or account details.

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