Before you wire, make the call.

Why this matters

A scammer may copy your agent’s or closing company’s email, change a single letter in the address, or take over a real account. A message might say the bank details changed or that you need to send money urgently.

The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report recorded $275,110,419—about $275.1 million—in reported real estate crime losses. That is the broader real estate category, not a count of wire fraud alone. Your best protection is an independent check before money moves.

Your before-you-send checklist

1. Save a trusted number early. Get your closing company’s number in person, from documents you have already verified, or through an independently confirmed source.
2. Call before you send. Ask your known contact to confirm the bank name, account details, recipient, and amount through their secure process.
3. Pause if anything changes. Treat new account details, urgency, secrecy, or instructions to skip verification as a reason to stop. Call your known contact again.
4. Confirm receipt. After sending, call the same trusted contact to confirm the funds arrived at the intended destination. Keep your records.

Do not send account numbers, identity documents, passwords, or wire instructions through this site’s contact form.

If you think you sent money to a scammer

1. Call your bank’s fraud department immediately. Ask them to contact the receiving bank and request a wire recall or freeze. Speed matters; recovery is not guaranteed.
2. Notify your real closing company and agent using independently verified contact details.
3. Report to the FBI at IC3.gov and contact local law enforcement. Save emails, payment receipts, phone numbers, and timestamps.
4. Watch for recovery scams. Do not pay someone who promises they can recover the funds for a fee.