This isn’t easy to write. But if it saves even one person from going through what I did, then it’s worth sharing.
I lost $300,000 in a real estate wire fraud scam. My entire life savings—gone in a blink. No refund. No redo. Just a house I never got to move into, and a very expensive lesson I’ll never forget.
Here’s what happened, what I wish I knew, and how you can protect yourself.
🏡 The Day Everything Went Wrong
I was buying my dream home. I had worked for years to save the down payment. The process was stressful but exciting.
Then, the day before closing, I got an email from what looked like my title company. It said:
“There’s been a last-minute change to the wiring instructions. Please use the updated info below to avoid delays.”
The email had their logo. The sender’s name looked right. The tone even sounded like the person I’d been emailing with. So I didn’t think twice.
I wired the $300,000.
A few hours later, I got a call from the real title company asking when I’d be sending the funds.
My stomach dropped.
I had just sent every penny I had to a scammer.
😞 What I Did Wrong (So You Don’t)
I’m not stupid. I’m not careless. But scammers are smart, and I just… didn’t know what to look for.
Here’s what I wish I had known:
🚨 1. Never Trust Wiring Instructions Over Email
Emails can be hacked, faked, and spoofed. The scammers were reading my conversations, waiting for the perfect time to pounce.
What to do instead:
Always call your title company or lender using a phone number you already know — not one from the email. Confirm everything over the phone before you send a dime.
🚨 2. Check the Email Address Carefully
The scammer used an address one letter off from the real one. I didn’t notice.
What to do instead:
Hover over email addresses. Look for tiny misspellings, added numbers, or odd domains.
🚨 3. Beware of Urgent or Last-Minute Changes
Scammers love pressure. They want you to act fast, without thinking.
What to do instead:
Take a breath. If someone says you “must” act right now to avoid losing the deal — pause and verify it with a phone call.
🚨 4. Use Secure Portals, Not Just Email
Real companies often have encrypted portals for document sharing and wire details. I didn’t use one.
What to do instead:
Ask your agent or title company if they use a secure platform — and use it every time.
🧠 Final Lessons I’ll Never Forget
- Scammers are watching. They wait until the moment you’re most distracted.
- Even “official-looking” emails can be fake.
- I thought it couldn’t happen to me — until it did.
I lost my home and my savings. But you don’t have to. Please, please slow down. Make the call. Double-check everything. No house is worth losing your future over a fake email.
💬 One Last Thing…
If you’re an agent, lender, or real estate pro, talk to your clients early about wire fraud. Don’t wait until closing day. Give them clear steps and say it out loud — “Always call before wiring money.”
And if you’re a buyer like I was — be smart. Be safe. Take that extra 3 minutes to verify. It’s the cheapest insurance you’ll ever get.
You’ve got this. And I’m rooting for you. 🛡️🏠❤️