Deposit Earnest Money Now
Fidelity Land Title Agency

Cyber Fraud in Real Estate: What Every Home Buyer Needs to Know

by

🛡️ Cyber Fraud in Real Estate: What Every Home Buyer Needs to Know

In today’s fast-paced digital world, real estate transactions happen over emails, online portals, and wire transfers. While this adds convenience, it also opens the door to cyber criminals.

At Fidelity Land Title Agency, protecting your home—and your money—is our mission. Below is what you need to know about cyber fraud in real estate and how to stay safe.

🔍 What Is Real Estate Wire Fraud?

Wire fraud occurs when a scammer tricks a buyer, seller, or agent into wiring money to the wrong account. These schemes typically involve:

  • Hacked or spoofed email addresses

  • Fake wire instructions that appear legitimate

  • Social engineering tactics to create urgency or trust

🚨 Real-World Scenario

Imagine you’re buying your dream home. You receive an email that looks like it’s from your title company, asking you to wire your down payment to a new account. You follow the instructions, only to discover days later… it was a scam.

This nightmare is happening every day—costing victims hundreds of millions annually.

✅ How Fidelity Land Title Protects You

At Fidelity Land Title Agency, we take proactive steps to secure your transaction:

🔒 Secure Communication Channels
We only send sensitive information through encrypted portals—never by unsecured email.

👥 Two-Step Identity Verification
We confirm your identity and instructions verbally before transferring funds.

📄 Clear Wire Instructions
Our wire instructions are never changed last-minute. If you receive updated instructions, call us immediately.

📢 Education First
We alert all parties about potential risks before the transaction starts.

🔐 6 Tips to Protect Yourself

  1. Call, don’t email – Always verify wire instructions over the phone using a known number.

  2. Examine email addresses – Watch for subtle misspellings (e.g., john@fide1itytitle.com).

  3. Don’t click suspicious links – Even if the email looks legit.

  4. Trust your instincts – If something feels rushed or unusual, pause.

  5. Use strong passwords – Especially for email accounts tied to your transaction.

  6. Ask questions – We’re here to guide you.

🧠 Final Thought

Cyber fraud in real estate is real, but with the right precautions, it’s preventable.

As your trusted title partner, Fidelity Land Title Agency is committed to securing your transaction from contract to closing.

🛡️ Fidelity Land Title Agency – Where Trust Meets Technology.