Wire Fraud and Real Estate: What to Do If You Suspect You're a Victim

In today’s fast-paced real estate market, wire fraud has unfortunately become a growing threat. Scammers are finding increasingly clever ways to trick buyers, sellers, and even agents out of thousands of dollars—often during the final stages of a property transaction.

If you suspect wire fraud has occurred, time is critical. Here’s what you should do immediately to try to recover your funds and limit further damage.

🚨 Steps to Take Immediately if You Suspect Wire Fraud:

  1. Contact Your Bank Right Away

    • Call your financial institution the moment you notice anything suspicious.

    • Ask them to stop the wire transfer and start an official fraud investigation.

    • Request that they reach out to the receiving bank where the funds were sent.

  2. Notify the FBI

    • Contact your local FBI field office as soon as possible.

    • The FBI, along with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), may be able to help freeze or recover your funds.

  3. File an Official Complaint

    • Report the incident at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), especially if the scam involved email compromise (also known as BEC/EAC scams).

    • Even if you didn’t lose money, your report could help protect others.

  4. Alert Affected Parties

    • Let your real estate agent, escrow officer, title company, and any other involved parties know what happened so they can be on alert.

  5. Update Your Passwords

    • Change the passwords to your email, online banking, and any real estate transaction platforms immediately.

    • If possible, change your usernames as well and set up two-factor authentication.

  6. Report the Scam to the FTC

🕵️ Helpful Information for Law Enforcement

When reporting wire fraud to the FBI or IC3, be ready to provide the following:

  • Date and time of the incident

  • Amount transferred

  • Name of the sender and their financial institution

  • Name of the recipient and their financial institution

  • Both account numbers

  • Any intermediary banks (if known)

  • IP address, email address, or phone number used by the scammer

  • Copies of suspicious messages or email signatures

  • Description of how the scammer contacted you (frequency, timing, tone, etc.)

Also, make note of anything that felt "off"—such as urgent requests, secrecy, or strange wording in emails or phone calls.

🏡 Final Thoughts for Buyers and Sellers

Wire fraud is a serious and growing issue in the real estate world, especially during the final days of a transaction. Stay alert, confirm all wire instructions directly by phone using known numbers (not those provided in emails), and never click suspicious links.

As your real estate professional, I’m here to guide you through a safe and smooth transaction. If you ever have questions about security during your home sale or purchase, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Stay informed, stay secure, and let’s make your home journey a safe one.

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