08/05/2021
SCAM ALERT!! I do work with a local title company. Yesterday, upon the advice of her attorney, a buyer of a property purchase called to verify wire instructions to send funds toward the purchase. Upon reading the instructions, it was discovered that she had received the wire instructions via email, from an account that included the correct name of the person at the correct title company, on a (badly) duplicated letterhead with correct title company info. The instructions, however, were NOT to the account of the title company. Had she not called to verify the instructions, that money would have been gone. This incident was reported to the proper authorities.
Sending money by wire can be a safe and efficient way to conduct business, but there is a good reason any legitimate company will include instructions to CALL, TO VERIFY WIRE INSTRUCTIONS prior to sending funds. Scammers create email accounts that are similar to accounts that appear legitimate, so it is important to double check the source of instructions prior to sending funds. If you feel you have received a suspicious email, please be sure to log out of the account and CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD. Be safe, friends.
