Wire fraud has a recognizable shape. The criminals use the same handful of moves on almost every transaction, which means a buyer who knows the warning signs can stop the scam before it starts. Here are the red flags to watch for.
Written by Adam L. Engel, Esq., Principal and real estate attorney at Prime Title & Escrow
You do not need to be a security expert to avoid wire fraud. You need to recognize a small set of signals that recur. When you see any of them, the response is always the same: stop and verify by phone using a known number.
Wiring instructions or changes that arrive by email, sudden urgency, a request to send to a new account, and a phone number provided in the email itself. Any one of these is reason enough to pause and call my office at a number you already trust before moving a dollar.
Red flag one: instructions or changes by email
Email is the channel criminals exploit, so wiring instructions that arrive by email, and especially changes to instructions you already had, deserve immediate suspicion. The American Land Title Association flags last-minute changes as a classic sign of fraud. Legitimate wiring details for your closing should not change. If they appear to, confirm by phone with a known number before acting.
Red flag two: urgency and pressure
Watch for messages that push you to act now: the closing will be delayed, the funds must go today, the instructions just changed and time is short. That pressure is deliberate, designed to rush you past verification. There is no legitimate reason you must send closing funds within minutes of a request, so treat urgency itself as a warning.
Red flag three: a new or different account
Be especially cautious of any request to send funds to a new account, a different bank, or a new account holder name. This is the heart of the scam, since redirecting your money is the entire goal. Confirm the receiving bank, account name, and account number by phone against what my office actually gave you.
Red flag four: a phone number in the email
If the email helpfully provides a number to call and verify, do not use it. A fraudster can place their own number there so your verification call reaches them and they reassure you the instructions are correct. Always verify using a number you obtained independently, from a signed document, my official website, or earlier in person contact.
Do not rely on a message looking legitimate. Criminals copy real names, logos, and formatting, use lookalike email addresses that differ by a single character, and now use artificial intelligence to match a person’s writing style, a point the FBI raises in its 2025 report. A convincing message is not a safe one. The only reliable test is verification through a known, independent channel, which is why I build that into every closing.
What to do when you spot one
The response to any red flag is simple and the same every time. Do not reply to the message, do not call a number it provides, and do not send any funds. Instead, call my office at a known number and confirm. I would far rather take a call about a message that turns out to be fine than learn afterward that funds went to the wrong place. For sending funds the right way, see how to send your closing funds safely.
These signals are the same on every closing across Virginia and West Virginia. Learn them once and they protect you for every transaction you ever do. When we work together, I will also tell you exactly how my legitimate instructions reach you, so anything that does not match stands out at once.
Before you act on any wiring message, send it to me or call (703) 552-4155 and I will confirm whether it really came from my office.
Get Your Free Quoteor call (703) 552-4155Frequently asked questions
What are the warning signs of real estate wire fraud?
The biggest signals are wiring instructions or changes that arrive by email, sudden urgency or pressure to send quickly, a request to send funds to a new or different account, and a phone number provided in the email itself. Any of these should prompt you to stop and verify by phone using a known number.
Is a change in wire instructions a red flag?
Yes, one of the clearest. Legitimate wiring instructions for your closing should not change. The American Land Title Association flags last minute changes as a classic sign of fraud, so confirm any change by phone with a known number before acting.
Why is urgency a warning sign?
Because pressure is the fraudster’s main tool. Urgency is meant to push you past the step that stops the scam, which is verifying by phone. There is no legitimate reason you must send closing funds within minutes, so treat a rushed request with suspicion.
What if the email looks completely legitimate?
Looking legitimate is not proof. Criminals copy real names, logos, and formatting, use lookalike addresses, and now use artificial intelligence to match writing style. That is why verification through a known, independent phone number matters more than how convincing a message appears.
Should I trust a phone number that is in the email?
No. A fraudster can put their own number in the email so your verification call reaches them. Always use a number you obtained independently, from a signed document, the official website, or earlier contact.
This article is general information about the warning signs of wire fraud in Virginia and West Virginia. It is not legal or financial advice for your specific transaction. When in doubt about any wiring message, verify by phone with my office before acting, and contact your financial institution and me immediately if you suspect fraud.