Fraud Safety Center

Real-estate wire fraud cost American consumers $2.7 billion in 2023. Cybercriminals target buyers, sellers, real estate agents, and title companies — especially in the days leading up to closing — with realistic-looking emails that redirect funds to fraudulent accounts.

We will NEVER email you wire instructions or changes to wire instructions. If you receive an email claiming to be from Demo Title Company with new or updated wire instructions, DO NOT trust it — call our office immediately at a phone number you have independently verified (e.g., from this website or an old paper document). Even if the email looks legitimate, even if it appears to come from a familiar address, even if it is timed urgently, do not send funds based on email instructions alone.

1. Call our office at a number you have independently verified (not a number from the email). 2. Speak directly with the closing officer handling your file. 3. Verbally confirm the receiving bank name, account number, and routing number. 4. Get a confirmation number for the verification call.

• Last-minute changes to wire instructions • Urgency or pressure to send funds quickly • Requests to wire to a personal account or unfamiliar bank • Slight changes in email addresses (e.g., extra letters, transposed characters) • Email signatures or formatting that look slightly off • Communication that bypasses your usual contact

If you have already sent a wire and suspect fraud, IMMEDIATELY: 1. Call your bank to request a wire recall. 2. File a complaint with the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov. 3. Contact our office. 4. Notify your real estate agent and lender. The first 24-48 hours are critical for recovery.

If you receive an email claiming to be from us with wire instructions or asking for sensitive information, please forward it to us so we can investigate and warn other clients. Do not click any links or open attachments before reporting.