Wire Fraud at Closing: How to Protect Your Money in a Florida Purchase

What if the email with your wiring instructions is not real?

It is the Tuesday before closing, and an email arrives that looks exactly right. The logo is familiar, the signature matches, and it says there has been a small update to the wiring instructions. Please send funds to the new account today.

You are in a rental in Jacksonville Beach with boxes stacked in the hall, your life savings about to become a home in Ponte Vedra. Everything feels urgent, and everything feels fine.

That feeling of being busy and trusting is exactly what a scammer is counting on.

How the scam works

Criminals watch for real estate transactions, sometimes by breaking into an email account belonging to someone involved. Once in, they study the conversation and wait for the moment funds are due.

Then they send a message that looks like it comes from the closing agent, with a different account number. Because it uses the same names and tone, it can be very convincing.

Buyers are the usual targets because they send the largest payment, but sellers can be targeted too, for example with a fake request to redirect proceeds.

The habits that protect you

These are simple, and they work best when you commit to them before the stress starts.

• Treat any emailed change in wiring instructions as suspicious until proven otherwise.
• Call the closing agent at a phone number you found independently, such as on their official website or from a document you received at the start, and not a number in the email in question.
• Read the account details back to a real person and confirm they match.
• Be wary of any message that pushes urgency or secrecy.
• Avoid sending sensitive information by plain email when a secure portal is available.

Agree with your closing agent early on how instructions will be delivered, so you will know right away if something does not match.

Phone calls beat messages for anything involving money. If you cannot reach the closing office, wait and try again rather than relying on a reply to a suspicious email. A short delay is a small price compared with a misdirected wire.

Ask your closing agent how they prefer to share instructions and how they will confirm receipt. Knowing their usual process in advance makes anything unusual stand out immediately.

Confirm before you send

Before any money moves, pick up the phone. Call the number you verified earlier and confirm the instructions in a conversation. It takes ten minutes and can save a lifetime of regret.

Some closing agents suggest sending a small test amount first. Whether that is appropriate is up to the closing agent, so follow their guidance rather than deciding on your own.

If you are moving from out of state and managing everything remotely, set a reminder to make this call. Distance makes scams easier, not harder.

If a message ever claims that a deadline has been moved up or that the normal channel is down, treat that as a reason to slow down. Real closings rarely depend on a single email reply, and a legitimate office will gladly talk with you by phone to confirm anything important.

Spotting the warning signs

Look for small oddities. A slightly different email address, a domain that is off by a letter, odd grammar, or a sudden change of bank in a different city are all clues.

Be especially careful if a message arrives outside the usual thread, if it asks you to act before you can call, or if it says the normal number is unavailable. Real closing offices understand why you are cautious and will welcome the call.

Remember that your agent will never ask you to wire money to them for a purchase. If you are unsure, ask them to help verify.

If something looks wrong

Act at once, because speed matters. Contact your bank immediately and tell them you may have been the victim of wire fraud, and ask whether the transfer can be recalled.

Then call your closing agent and your agent, and report the incident to the appropriate authorities. Your bank and closing agent will explain the reporting steps that apply to your situation.

Do not be embarrassed. These scams are sophisticated and aimed at careful people. Reporting quickly gives the best chance of a better outcome, though no one can promise one.

Staying safe as a seller and an owner

If you are an owner in Nocatee or Atlantic Beach selling a home, the same rules apply when you give payout instructions. Provide your account details through a secure method the closing agent recommends, and confirm by phone that they were received correctly.

Keep your own email secure. Use strong, unique passwords and turn on two-step verification, since a compromised inbox is how many of these scams begin.

A calm process is your best defense. Your closing agent can describe how their office handles instructions so that you recognize the real thing.

A short family plan before closing week

If more than one person is involved in your purchase, talk through the plan together before closing week begins. Decide who will receive the wiring instructions, who will make the verification call, and what you will do if a message arrives that seems different from what you expected.

Write down your closing agent's verified phone number and keep it somewhere handy, separate from your email. If you are working with a lender, ask how they communicate sensitive documents, so you recognize a legitimate request.

These small agreements take only a few minutes. When the pressure is on and a message looks urgent, you will already know what to do, and that is the most effective protection there is.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know wiring instructions are real?

Call your closing agent at a phone number you verified independently, and confirm the details out loud. Never rely on a number or link inside an emailed change.

Will my agent ever send me wiring instructions?

Usually the closing agent provides them. If you receive instructions from anyone, still verify them by phone with the closing agent.

What should I do if I already sent money?

Contact your bank immediately, then your closing agent and the appropriate authorities. Quick action gives the best chance of recovery, though outcomes vary.

Should I send a test wire first?

Only if your closing agent advises it. Follow their guidance and still confirm all details by phone.

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What To Do Right Now

If you have a closing coming up, we can talk through the steps in advance. A few minutes of preparation goes a long way.

Call or text Joey Larsen at 904-863-6679, or visit RetireMeToFlorida.com to get started.