SCAM LIBRARY · MONEY & PAYMENT

The real-estate closing wire fraud

Scammers impersonate someone involved in your home purchase and trick you into wiring closing funds to the wrong account.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-06

How it works

You receive an email or call that appears to come from your real-estate agent, attorney, or title company—often just before closing day when emotions run high and time feels short. The message urgently requests that you wire your down payment or closing costs to a specific bank account, and the sender creates pressure by saying the deal could fall through if you delay.

Red flags

• An unexpected email or call asking you to wire money to a new or unfamiliar account for closing costs
• The sender creates urgency or threatens that the deal will collapse if you don't act immediately
• The wiring instructions come via email rather than during a documented phone call or in-person meeting with someone you've already met

What to do

• Stop and independently verify the request by calling your real-estate agent, attorney, or title company directly using a phone number you find yourself (not one provided in the suspicious message)
• Never wire money based solely on an email or voicemail—always confirm wire instructions in person or through a documented phone call to a known contact
• If you've already sent money or suspect fraud, report it immediately at reportfraud.ftc.gov