Wire fraud scams are not new, but we are beginning to hear more about them hitting too close to home – far too often!
It is very easy with the number of emails received during a real estate transaction (agent, lender, inspector, closing attorney, etc…) for a buyer to become confused about who they are communicating with. And, sadly, the bad guys are getting very good about making themselves look legitimate.
It is always my recommendation that, upon receipt of any questionable communication, you contact the closing attorney’s office immediately – not through any email address or phone number provided in that questionable communication – but directly by phone, through a verified phone number, to confirm the legitimacy of the information.
NEVER provide your personal information via email to an unconfirmed source or over the phone to someone who called you.
It is my hope that by sharing this information it will be easier for my clients to recognize the red flags and protect themselves from the danger.
Please take a moment to watch this quick video by Katie Johnson, General Counsel for The National Association of Realtors, who explains how it happens and how you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim of wire fraud.