Stop Fraud 101
10 prevention steps sourced from the FBI, CFPB, NAR, ALTA, and CertifID. Print them out and keep them with your closing documents.
Stop Fraud 101
Your Fraud Prevention Toolkit
Every step below is verified by federal agencies and industry authorities. Print this page, share it with your family, and refer to it throughout your closing process. Wire fraud is preventable — but only if you know what to watch for.
What To Do RIGHT NOW If You're a Victim
Every minute matters. Do these three things immediately — in this order:
Call Your Bank
Request an immediate wire recall. Ask for the fraud department. Provide the transaction reference number, amount, and receiving bank. Do not hang up until they confirm the recall has been initiated.
Do this within minutes
Report to FBI IC3
File at ic3.gov. The FBI's Recovery Asset Team (RAT) has frozen fraudulent transfers for victims who reported quickly. Include all emails, wire confirmations, and account numbers.
Same hour
Call Your Title Company
Use a phone number you already have on file — NOT one from a suspicious email. Alert them that funds may have been misdirected. They may be able to coordinate with the receiving bank.
Same hour
Source: FBI IC3 Recovery Asset Team (RAT) protocol, CFPB consumer advisory
10 Steps to Prevent Wire Fraud
Click any step for a detailed explanation of why it matters and how to implement it.
Verify Wiring Instructions In Person or By Phone
Get wiring instructions from the fund recipient in person. If received another way, confirm by phone using a number you already have.
Source: FBI IC3 / NAR
Click for details
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication on All Accounts
Turn on MFA for every email account, banking app, and platform used in your transaction.
Source: CertifID / FBI
Click for details
Be Suspicious of Last-Minute Changes
Title companies and lenders have established processes that don't suddenly change near closing.
Source: NAR Consumer Guide
Click for details
Forward Emails, Never Reply
When communicating about financial details, use FORWARD and manually type the recipient's address.
Source: ALTA
Click for details
Use Out-of-Band Verification
Confirm all financial details through a SECOND, independent communication channel.
Source: FBI / CertifID 2026
Click for details
Confirm Your Bank Verifies Account Names
Before wiring funds, ask your bank to verify the account name matches the expected recipient.
Source: CFPB
Click for details
Confirm Receipt Immediately
After wiring money, call your title company right away to confirm the funds arrived.
Source: FBI IC3
Click for details
Watch for Deepfakes and AI Communications
Deepfake scams in real estate increased 40% year-over-year. Be wary of anything that seems slightly off.
Source: NAR / Entrust 2026 Report
Click for details
Educate Yourself Before the Transaction
At the START of the homebuying process, discuss wire procedures with your agent and settlement company.
Source: NAR Consumer Guide
Click for details
Ask Your Title Company About Their Fraud Prevention
Companies using CertifID, Closinglock, or similar tools provide an additional layer of protection.
Source: ALTA Best Practices
Click for details
If You Suspect You're a Victim
Speed is everything. Follow these steps in order — the first hour is your best window for recovery.
Contact your bank immediately
Request a wire recall. Every minute counts.
Call your title company
Alert them that funds may have been misdirected.
File with FBI IC3
Report at ic3.gov. Include all transaction details.
File with FinCEN
Report suspicious financial activity at fincen.gov.
Contact local law enforcement
File a police report with all documentation.
Notify your real estate agent
They may be able to assist with recovery efforts.
Where to Report Fraud
How Fraud Actually Happens: 3 Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: The Spoofed Email
What Happened
A buyer receives an email that appears to be from their title company with 'updated' wiring instructions. The email uses the same logo, signature block, and formatting as previous legitimate emails. The only difference: one letter in the domain name (e.g., @titIe-company.com with a capital I instead of lowercase L). The buyer wires $287,000 to the criminal's account. By the time the title company calls to ask where the funds are, the money has been moved through three accounts and is unrecoverable.
The Lesson
Always call your title company at a number YOU already have — never a number from an email. Verify the domain character by character.
Based on patterns reported to FBI IC3
Scenario 2: The Hacked Agent
What Happened
A real estate agent's email account is compromised through a phishing attack. The criminal monitors the inbox for weeks, learning the details of pending transactions. Three days before closing, the criminal — using the agent's actual email account — sends the buyer 'corrected' wire instructions. Because the email comes from the real agent's verified address, the buyer complies without calling to verify.
The Lesson
Even emails from verified, known contacts can be compromised. ALWAYS verify wire instructions by phone, regardless of who the email appears to come from. Multi-factor authentication on all email accounts is essential.
CertifID 2026 Report
Scenario 3: The After-Hours Rush
What Happened
A buyer receives a call at 5:45 PM on Thursday — their closing is Friday morning. The caller, impersonating the settlement agent, says the wire must be sent tonight because 'the bank processes overnight and the closing will be delayed.' The buyer panics and wires $165,000 without verifying through the proper channels. Friday morning, the real settlement agent has no record of the call.
The Lesson
Legitimate settlement agents don't create last-minute urgency around wire transfers. If you feel rushed, stop. Real closings can be rescheduled — your money can't be unwired.
FBI IC3 advisory
Your Wire Transfer Safety Checklist
Before you wire ANY money for your closing, verify every item on this list. Print it and check each box:
I received wiring instructions through a secure portal or in person — NOT solely by email
I called my settlement agent at a phone number I already had on file to verify the instructions
I confirmed the bank name, routing number, and account number match what I was told by phone
The account name on the wire matches my title company's name — not an individual's name
I verified the exact dollar amount to wire with my settlement agent by phone
I checked with my bank about their wire cutoff time (many stop at 3-4 PM)
I will call my settlement agent immediately after the wire processes to confirm receipt
I have NOT received any last-minute emails changing the wiring instructions
I have NOT been pressured to wire urgently or 'the closing will be delayed'
I have my settlement agent's direct phone number saved — not from an email
