Wire Fraud & Security
Simple security practices can help protect one of the most sensitive parts of a real estate transaction.
Always verify before you wire.
Real estate transactions are frequent targets for email compromise and fraudulent wiring instructions.
Criminals may impersonate a title company, Realtor, lender, attorney, buyer, seller, or other participant. Fraudulent messages can look convincing and may appear inside a legitimate email thread.
The most important rule
Never send funds based solely on wiring instructions received by email.
Before initiating a wire transfer, independently verify the instructions through a trusted phone number you obtained separately from the email containing the instructions.
Pause and verify when something changes.
Unexpected urgency, changed account information, unusual email addresses, or requests to bypass normal verification procedures should be treated as warning signs.
Last-Minute Changes
Be suspicious of any message claiming wiring instructions have suddenly changed.
Look-Alike Email Addresses
Attackers may use domains or addresses that differ from a legitimate address by only one character.
Pressure to Act Quickly
Fraud attempts often create urgency to prevent the recipient from verifying information.
If you believe something may be wrong
Do not send funds. Contact Legacy Assured Title using a trusted phone number, including our public number at (731) 251-9800. If a transfer has already been initiated, immediately contact your financial institution and appropriate law-enforcement authorities.