How to avoid wire fraud when you buy a home
The largest wire most people ever send is their down payment. Criminals know when it's due.
How the scam works
Criminals watch for home sales — sometimes by compromising an email account, sometimes from public listing and contract activity. Shortly before closing, the buyer gets an email that looks like it's from the closing attorney, the agent or the lender, with new wiring instructions. The money goes to the criminal's account and is moved out quickly.
The emails are convincing: real names, real logos, correct closing dates, sometimes sent from a genuine account that was hacked.
The one rule
Before you wire anything, call the closing attorney's office at a phone number you found independently — from their official website or your original paperwork — and confirm the account details out loud. Never use a number from the email asking you to wire.
Legitimate closing attorneys don't change wiring instructions by email at the last minute. Treat any change as fraud until proven otherwise.
Warning signs
- A last-minute change to the bank or account.
- Urgency: wire today or you'll lose the house.
- An email address that is one letter off.
- A request to keep it quiet or not call.
- A bank in a different state or a personal account name.
- Instructions sent by text or by an agent who doesn't normally handle money.
Safer habits from contract to close
- Ask the closing attorney at the start how they'll send instructions and how you'll verify them.
- Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor sign-in on your email.
- Don't send bank details or ID over unsecured email.
- After you wire, call the attorney's office to confirm receipt.
- Ask whether a cashier's check is an acceptable alternative for your closing.
If you think you've been scammed
- Call your bank immediately and ask for a wire recall. Minutes matter.
- Call the closing attorney at a verified number.
- Report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
- Tell your agent and lender.
Every money moment in a purchase
Wire fraud isn't only a closing-day risk. Money moves several times during a home purchase, and each is a target:
| When | What | Verify with |
|---|---|---|
| After the offer is accepted | Earnest money | The holder named in the contract, by phone |
| During due diligence | Inspection and appraisal fees | The company directly, using its published number |
| Closing week | Down payment and closing costs | The closing attorney's office, by phone |
| After closing | Seller proceeds, if you are also selling | The closing attorney's office, by phone |
Other scams buyers see
- Rental and listing scams — someone advertises a home they don't own and asks for a deposit. Always see the home with a licensed agent before paying anything.
- Deed copy mailers — official-looking letters offering a copy of your recorded deed for a fee. Your deed is a public record available from the county.
- Fake homestead filing services — you can file the homestead exemption yourself with your county tax assessor, usually at no charge.
- Moving and contractor deposits — check reviews and licences before paying upfront.
Talk about it early
The best protection is a plan agreed at the start: how instructions will reach you, who will call to confirm, and which number you will use. Ask the closing attorney and your agent on day one of the contract, not closing week. When the email arrives, you'll already know whether it fits the plan.
A scenario: the Thursday email
Closing is Friday. On Thursday afternoon an email arrives from what looks like the closing paralegal: the firm's bank is being audited, please wire to this new account instead, and the closing will be delayed if funds aren't in by 5 p.m. The logo, signature block and closing date are all correct. The sender's address has one extra letter.
The safe response: don't reply, don't click, and don't call any number in the email. Look up the attorney's office on its official website or your original paperwork, call, and ask. The real office will tell you nothing changed. Forward the email to them and your agent so they can warn others.
Questions to ask at the start of your contract
- How will wiring instructions be delivered to me?
- What phone number should I use to verify them?
- Will instructions ever change during the transaction?
- Do you accept a cashier's check for some or all of the funds?
- Who will confirm once my wire arrives?
Common questions
Will my closing attorney ever email wiring instructions?
Some deliver them securely by email or a portal at the start. What they won't do is change them at the last minute by email. Verify any instructions by phone at an independently found number.
Can a stolen wire be recovered?
Sometimes, if the bank acts fast. That's why the first call goes to your bank, immediately.
Is a cashier's check safer?
It avoids a wire, but ask the closing attorney first whether they accept one and for what amount.
Does my agent send wiring instructions?
Usually not. The closing attorney's office handles closing funds. If someone claiming to be your agent sends you account details, treat it as suspect and call.
Is earnest money at risk too?
Yes. Earnest money goes to the holder named in your contract, often within a few days of acceptance, and criminals target that payment as well. Confirm how and where to deliver it by calling the holder at a number you found yourself, and get a receipt.
Read next
General information for Georgia home buyers, not legal, tax or lending advice. Loan programs, rates, limits, tax rates and insurance terms are set by lenders, agencies, counties and insurers and change — confirm current figures with them, and have your closing attorney review anything you sign.