In plain English
Verify wiring instructions by calling a known number before sending money.
A signing agent does not handle funds.
Why it matters
In a closing wire scam, a criminal sends an email that looks like it came from the title company with new account details. A buyer who follows it can lose a down payment, and getting the money back after it leaves the account is often difficult.
Scammers time these emails for the days just before closing, when buyers are rushed and expect messages about money.
Worked example
A buyer gets an email with new wiring details, calls the title company at a known number and learns it was fake.
What to do
- Save the title company's phone number early from a trusted source, such as your contract or the company's official website.
- Call that saved number to confirm any wiring instructions before sending funds.
- Treat any last minute change in account details as a warning sign.
- Ask your bank whether it offers a callback or verification step for large wires.
- If something seems wrong, call your bank and the title company at once.
Common mistakes
- Calling a number listed in the suspicious email can connect the buyer straight to the scammer.
- Wiring based on an email alone, without a phone check, is how most buyers lose funds.
- Waiting a day to report a suspicious transfer can lower the chance the bank can stop it.
Not the same as: Notary scam
Closing wire fraud targets a buyer's funds through fake title company messages, while a notary scam targets a notary with fake jobs or checks. See Notary scam.
Go deeper
- Wire Fraud at Closing: How Buyers and Sellers Stay Safe: How closing wire fraud works, the warning signs of a fake email, and a call-back routine buyers and sellers can use before sending or receiving closing funds.
Related terms
- Acknowledgment: A notarial act where the signer tells the notary that they signed the document willingly.
- Affidavit: A written statement of facts that the signer swears or affirms is true, usually notarized with a jurat.
- Willingness: A signer's voluntary choice to sign, free of pressure.
Common questions
What is a wire fraud?
A scam where criminals impersonate a title company and trick a buyer into wiring closing funds to the wrong account.
Can you give an example of wire fraud?
A buyer gets an email with new wiring details, calls the title company at a known number and learns it was fake.
Will the signing agent give me wiring instructions?
No. Signing agents do not handle funds or send wiring details, so any such request from an agent is a red flag.
What if I already sent the wire?
Call your bank immediately to ask about a recall, contact the title company at a number you trust, and report the fraud to law enforcement.
General information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and change; check with your state's commissioning office.