Mortgage Closing Wire Fraud: How to Verify Instructions

Key Takeaways

Never confirm a wire transfer using a phone number, link, or reply button from the email that changed your instructions — that's the trap.
Before closing day, save the phone numbers of two people you trust, like your agent and closing company, and agree ahead of time on how they'll confirm payment details with you.
If money gets wired to the wrong account, call the bank immediately — the longer you wait, the harder it is to get it back.

The last-minute email is the attack

This scam works because it arrives at exactly the moment you're expecting an urgent email about paperwork and a large payment. A criminal pretends to be your real estate agent, attorney, closing agent (the person or company handling the paperwork and money for your home purchase, sometimes called a settlement or escrow agent), or title company, and asks you to send your closing money to a different account than planned. The email can look completely real — scammers sometimes already know real details about your purchase.

The rule that protects you is simple but strict: never change where you send your money based on an email alone. Call someone you trust, using a phone number you already had saved — not one from the email you just got. Don't reply to the message, click any links in it, or dial the number listed in its signature.

Set the rule before closing week

Get the phone numbers for your closing agent and real estate agent from a source you trust, not from an email.

On the day: Call your saved number to confirm the amount, who it's going to, and how to send it.
If anything changes: Stop. Call your saved contact and check every detail yourself before doing anything.

Ask ahead of time how you'll receive wiring instructions, and consider agreeing on a secret code word to confirm it's really them.

On the day: Keep your closing paperwork and your contacts' names and numbers together in one place.
If anything changes: Never send bank account numbers or other financial details by email.

Make sure everyone helping you with the purchase knows: an email alone can never authorize sending money.

On the day: Double-check everything before you send the wire, not after.
If anything changes: If you already sent it, call your bank's wire department immediately and ask them to try to get it back.

Focus the table and use arrow keys to view all columns.

Before closing	On the day	If anything changes
Get the phone numbers for your closing agent and real estate agent from a source you trust, not from an email.	Call your saved number to confirm the amount, who it's going to, and how to send it.	Stop. Call your saved contact and check every detail yourself before doing anything.
Ask ahead of time how you'll receive wiring instructions, and consider agreeing on a secret code word to confirm it's really them.	Keep your closing paperwork and your contacts' names and numbers together in one place.	Never send bank account numbers or other financial details by email.
Make sure everyone helping you with the purchase knows: an email alone can never authorize sending money.	Double-check everything before you send the wire, not after.	If you already sent it, call your bank's wire department immediately and ask them to try to get it back.

What not to do

Don't assume an email is real just because the sender's name looks familiar — that name can be faked. Don't let a tight deadline pressure you into skipping the phone-call check. And don't send bank account numbers, ID copies, or wire confirmations over email just because the message thread looks like it's part of your home purchase.

A five-minute pause can be the most valuable step in the transaction

The closing agent usually manages the money transfer, but exactly who does this varies by state. Ask early who will be handling your money at closing, and save that person's verified phone number before any payment is due.

Sources

CFPB: beware of mortgage closing scams, accessed September 23, 2026.
CFPB: who to expect at mortgage closing, accessed September 23, 2026.
This is educational information, not legal or security advice for a specific transaction.

What to Do Now

Before closing week, save your closing agent's and real estate agent's phone numbers from a source you trust.

Confirm your closing costs and how the payment process works before any wire is due.

If the wiring instructions ever change, stop and call a number you already have saved before sending any money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my settlement agent send wiring changes by email?

No — treat any emailed change to your wiring instructions as suspicious, even if it looks official. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal consumer-protection agency, warns that scammers pretend to be your real estate agent, attorney, or closing company and send fake last-minute wiring instructions. Call a phone number you already have on file, not one from the message, to check before sending anything.

What should I do after wiring money to the wrong account?

Call your bank or wire-transfer company right away and ask them to try to reverse (recall) the transfer. The CFPB says acting fast gives you the best chance of getting your money back. Also report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) as soon as you can.

What should I do after reading Mortgage Closing Wire Fraud: The Call-Back Rule That Protects Your Funds?

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Yes. Money Map compares this topic with your other financial opportunities so you can see whether it is your highest-impact next move or a lower-priority follow-up.

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Written by

Jay Rege

Head of Research

20+ years in retail banking, including SunTrust Bank and First Republic Bank

Jay Rege is Head of Research at SwitchWize, with more than 20 years of experience in retail banking, including roles at SunTrust Bank and First Republic Bank. He writes on deposit accounts, retail banking products, and what they mean for everyday savers.

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