Wire Transfers and Home Closings: How to Protect Your Money

You’ve worked hard to save for your new home. The last thing you want is for your down payment to disappear right before closing. But in today’s digital world, wire fraud is one of the biggest threats to homebuyers—and scammers are targeting real estate closings more than ever. 

Here’s how to protect your money when wiring funds for your home purchase. 

Why Real Estate Wire Fraud Happens 

Cybercriminals hack into email accounts or impersonate title companies and real estate agents. They’ll send fake wire instructions that look nearly identical to legitimate ones—often just changing the bank account number by a few digits. 

If you follow their fake instructions, your money could be wired directly into the scammer’s account—and once it’s gone, there’s often no getting it back. 

  

How to Stay Safe 

Follow these steps to make sure your funds get where they’re supposed to go: 

1. Verify Everything by Phone 

Always call your title company at a known, trusted phone number (not the number from an email) to verify: 

• The wire instructions 

• The name on the account 

• The amount due 

Don’t rely on email alone—confirm it with a live person. 

2. Don’t Trust Last-Minute Changes 

Wire instructions almost never change. If you receive an email saying: 

• “We updated our account.” 

• “Please send to a new routing number.” 

• “Our escrow account is down.” 

…it’s likely a scam. Call your title company immediately. 

3. Use Secure Delivery Methods 

When your title company sends wire instructions, make sure they are: 

• Encrypted or delivered through a secure portal 

• Never sent through plain, unprotected email 

• Accompanied by a call to confirm receipt 

At Title Stream, we use secure systems and direct contact to protect your funds from fraud. 

4. Double-Check the Bank Details 

Before sending the wire: 

• Confirm the routing number matches the bank listed 

• Verify the recipient name is your title company 

• Ask your bank to perform a verbal confirmation (some do this by request) 

Even small typos or extra numbers are red flags. 

5. Confirm Receipt Immediately 

After wiring your funds, call the title company to confirm they received it. Don't wait until closing day to discover a problem. 

Final Word 

Wire fraud is real—and it’s targeting homebuyers during the most important purchase of their lives. But with a few precautions, you can protect yourself. 

At Title Stream, we prioritize wire safety. Our team will walk you through secure steps, confirm instructions with you directly, and help ensure your funds arrive safely—so you can close on your new home with confidence.