February 6, 2026
Protect Yourself While Purchasing Your New House
Are you about to purchase a home? If so, you are probably eager for all that home ownership brings. While buying a new home is exciting it is important to ensure safety with any transaction. In recent months the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has issues an alert about a new wire fraud scam. Crooks are attempting to divert funds by intercepting the wiring of money for real estate closings.
According to NAR the best way to avoid becoming a victim is with preventative measures.
Please use the following steps:
- E-mailed bank wiring instructions should only come from encrypted e-mails from your lender or title insurance company (i.e., you need a password to view the e-mail information).
- If you receive an e-mail from your Realtor asking for wiring instructions call them immediately. Do not act on the instructions and do not call using any phone numbers in the e-mail.
- Always confirm any wire instructions you receive by calling voice to voice (or face to face) with your agent or someone you know at your mortgage or title company before authorizing any wires from your bank account (this goes for even encrypted e-mails).
- The scammers will set up phone numbers and may even call you to confirm wire information so do not act on any call or e-mail until you have called to confirmed the details with someone you know.
- Be aware that fake emails are extremely convincing. Many sophisticated parties have been deceived.
- Don’t assume that you are “too savvy” to recognize the fraud. In addition, no one should assume that they are “too small a target” to be on these criminals’ radars.
For more information please on how to stay protected please click here
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