Real Estate Wire Fraud: What Miami Home Sellers Must Know Before Closing
What is real estate wire fraud, and how does it affect Miami home sellers?
Real estate wire fraud is a scam in which criminals hack or spoof the email accounts of title companies, attorneys, or real estate agents, then send fake wiring instructions right before closing -- redirecting your proceeds or your buyer's funds to a criminal account. In 2025 alone, Americans lost $275 million to this type of fraud. Miami is a prime target: large cash transactions, many out-of-state and international parties, and fast-paced closings create ideal conditions for these criminals. The single most important protection is this -- never act on wire instructions sent by email. Always verify by calling a number you obtained independently at the very start of the transaction.
By Lynley Ciorobea | June 19, 2026
Wire fraud in real estate is not a distant threat. It's happening in South Florida every week.
In one well-documented Florida case, a buyer wired more than $449,000 to a criminal account after receiving an email that looked exactly like it came from their real estate attorney. The email had the right name, the right logo, and even accurate details about the transaction. The only problem was that it wasn't from the attorney at all. By the time anyone realized what had happened, the money was gone.
This scenario plays out across Miami constantly. And while the story above involved a buyer, sellers face the same risk -- especially when wiring instructions are involved in receiving their proceeds or funding their next purchase simultaneously.
If you're preparing to sell a home in Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Coconut Grove, or anywhere in southern Miami, this is one conversation your agent should be having with you before you get anywhere near a closing table.
How the Scam Works
The most common version of this fraud starts with email compromise.
Criminals use phishing software to gain access to the email accounts of title companies, real estate attorneys, or agents. Once inside, they don't strike immediately. They monitor. They read emails, learn the names of the parties, confirm the closing date and the amounts involved, and wait until the final days before closing -- when the pressure is highest and the money is about to move.
Then they send an email that appears to come from the title company or attorney. It contains "revised" wiring instructions -- same bank name, same professional formatting, just a different account number. The urgency in the message is often deliberate: "Please update your records and wire by end of day." Many people comply without calling to verify.
In 2026, this threat has evolved further. Criminals are now using AI-generated voice cloning to make phone calls that sound exactly like your title officer or real estate attorney. Using as little as 30 seconds of audio (obtainable from a voicemail, social media video, or company website), they can generate a convincing phone call redirecting wire instructions at the last minute. This is why the standard advice of "call to verify" must be paired with an important qualifier: only call a number you independently verified at the start of the transaction -- not a number that came in an email, even a recent one.
Some criminals go even further, duplicating entire title company websites -- complete with staff photos, logos, and contact information -- so that even someone who independently looks up the title company may land on a fake site and call a fraudulent number.
Why Miami Sellers Are Particularly Exposed
This problem exists everywhere, but Miami sellers face a concentration of risk factors that makes the threat especially serious.
Transaction size. Homes in this market run from $750,000 to well above $5 million. Even in a cash deal with no mortgage, sellers are coordinating the movement of significant sums. A wiring error at this scale isn't a manageable inconvenience -- it can be catastrophic.
The prevalence of cash. Nearly 44% of Miami-Dade closings are all-cash transactions -- more than double the national average. Cash deals mean large wire transfers with no lender involved to catch discrepancies. It's just you, your attorney or title company, and an outgoing wire.
Remote and out-of-state parties. Many buyers purchasing in Coral Gables, Cocoplum, or Palmetto Bay have never set foot in Florida before closing. Sellers relocating from New York, California, or overseas may not attend closing in person. When parties don't meet face to face, email and phone become the entire communication channel -- which is exactly the vulnerability these criminals exploit.
Florida's public records. Florida requires property sale details and recording information to be public. That means a determined criminal can find out that a sale is pending, identify the parties, and begin crafting a targeted attack before anyone realizes they're being watched.
Florida is a top target. The state consistently ranks near the top for real estate wire fraud losses. Miami's active market, high transaction values, and frequent international involvement make it particularly attractive to bad actors.
Understanding what happens after you accept an offer in Florida -- including all the moments where money moves -- is part of knowing when and where your vulnerability is highest.
Your Wire Fraud Protection Protocol
The good news is that a small number of deliberate habits can dramatically reduce your risk. Here's the protocol I walk my clients through before every closing.
Step 1: Get a verified phone number on day one.
The moment you're in contract and you know which title company or attorney is handling the closing, call their official number -- found on their official website or a business card, not in any email -- and introduce yourself. Write that number down. This is the only number you use for any wire-related communication for the rest of the transaction.
Step 2: Establish a personal contact.
Ask for the name and direct line of the closing coordinator handling your file. Build a relationship with that person early. When you call to verify wire instructions, you'll be talking to someone who knows your voice and your file.
Step 3: Never act on email wire instructions alone.
When you receive wiring instructions -- whether in a formal document or a quick email -- stop before doing anything. Call your verified number, confirm the bank name, account number, and routing number verbally, and ask them to confirm they sent the instructions you received. This one step stops most fraud attempts cold.
Step 4: Use "forward" instead of "reply."
If you need to respond to an email during the transaction, don't hit reply. Use forward, then manually type in the verified email address. This prevents you from accidentally responding to a spoofed address that looks almost identical to the real one.
Step 5: Wire, then call to confirm.
Within four to eight hours of sending a wire, call the title company using your verified number to confirm they received the funds in the correct account. If there's a problem, acting within hours dramatically increases the chance of recovery.
Step 6: Watch for these red flags.
Last-minute changes to wiring instructions sent by email
Urgent language pressuring you to act quickly
Account names that don't exactly match the title company or law firm
Email addresses with subtle spelling differences (replacing an "l" with a capital "I," adding a hyphen, or using a .net instead of .com)
Any instruction to skip the phone verification step
Step 7: Enroll in Miami-Dade's free Property Fraud Alert.
The Miami-Dade Clerk of Court offers a free service that emails you within 24 hours if any document -- including a deed -- is recorded under your name in the county's official records. This won't prevent wire fraud directly, but it's an important layer of protection against title fraud and deed theft, which often accompany or follow wire fraud attempts. Sign up at miamidadeclerk.gov/clerk/property-fraud.page.
If you're thinking through the full financial picture of your closing -- what sellers typically pay in Miami-Dade and why the title insurance custom here is reversed compared to the rest of Florida -- that context matters, because understanding who is wiring what to whom is the first step toward protecting it.
If you've already been targeted or think you have:
Call your bank immediately and ask for the fraud department -- request a SWIFT wire recall right away. Every hour matters. Then call the title company using your verified number to report what happened. File a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. Contact local law enforcement. Recovery isn't guaranteed, but acting within the first few hours gives you the best chance.
One more note: your earnest money deposit is also a wire. If you're curious how that works and what protections govern it in Florida, the earnest money guide covers it in detail.
Protecting clients through a transaction isn't just about negotiating a good price. It's about being the person who knows what's coming and makes sure nothing catches them off guard. This is one of those conversations that most agents skip entirely -- and one I make a point of having early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sellers lose money to wire fraud, or is it mainly a buyer's problem?
Both buyers and sellers are targets, though the risk profile is different. Buyers wire funds to the title company for their down payment and closing costs. Sellers can be targeted if they need to wire funds anywhere during the transaction, and their proceeds wiring instructions -- issued by the title company -- are also a target for interception. In Miami's high-value market, a compromised seller payout wire can represent millions of dollars.
What's the safest way for my buyer's funds to reach the title company?
The safest approach is for wire instructions to be confirmed by phone -- using a verified number obtained at the beginning of the transaction -- before any funds are sent. Reputable title companies and attorneys will have written wire fraud prevention policies in place and should walk both parties through their verification process. Ask your title company directly what protocols they use.
What should I do immediately if I suspect wire fraud?
Call your bank right away and ask for the fraud department -- request a SWIFT wire recall. The faster you act, the better. Then call the title company using your independently verified phone number (not a number from a recent email) to report what happened. File a complaint at FBI IC3.gov and contact Miami-Dade law enforcement. Document every email, call, and communication related to the incident.
What is the Miami-Dade Property Fraud Alert program?
Miami-Dade County's Clerk of Court offers a free service that sends you an email notification within 24 hours whenever a deed or other document is recorded in your name. It's designed to help property owners detect deed fraud quickly. You can sign up at miamidadeclerk.gov/clerk/property-fraud.page. It takes only a few minutes and is available to any Miami-Dade property owner.
Are cash transactions at higher risk for wire fraud than financed deals?
Not necessarily higher risk, but the exposure is larger. In a financed deal, the lender is also verifying wire instructions and has its own fraud prevention protocols. In a cash transaction, there's no lender in the loop, so the buyer and seller (and their attorney or title company) are the only safeguards. In a market where nearly half of Miami-Dade closings are all-cash, understanding this distinction matters.
Closing day is one of the most financially significant moments in most people's lives. It's also, unfortunately, one of the moments criminals have learned to target with increasing sophistication.
The good news is that awareness and a few deliberate habits can protect you almost entirely. Know your verified contacts from day one. Confirm everything by phone before any money moves. Enroll in Miami-Dade's Property Fraud Alert.
If you're preparing to sell in Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest, Coconut Grove, Palmetto Bay, or anywhere in southern Miami, I'm happy to walk you through how I approach this with my clients -- and how to choose the right closing professionals for your transaction. Reach out anytime at lynleyresidential.com.
About Lynley Ciorobea
Lynley Ciorobea is a Miami-born real estate professional known for helping homeowners successfully prepare, position, and sell their homes across Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, and the surrounding southern Miami neighborhoods. Since 2007, she has built her business around thoughtful strategy, strong negotiation, and a marketing-first approach designed to help listings stand out in an ever-evolving market.
A true local, Lynley grew up in Pinecrest and graduated from Palmer Trinity School before attending Duke University, where she earned a BA in Psychology. Her deep roots in Miami give her a nuanced understanding of the architecture, lifestyle, and character that make each neighborhood distinct. From classic Old Spanish homes in Coral Gables to newer construction in South Miami and Pinecrest, she brings a local perspective that goes far beyond surface-level market knowledge.
Over the years, Lynley has naturally become a trusted resource for homeowners preparing to sell. Many of her clients come to her long before their home ever hits the market, looking for guidance on timing, pricing, improvements, and how to position their property thoughtfully. She approaches each listing as a strategic launch rather than a simple transaction, combining market insight, negotiation experience, and elevated marketing to help sellers move forward with clarity and confidence.
As the founder of the Lynley Residential Group, Lynley remains personally involved in every listing she represents. She leads each transaction from initial strategy through closing, ensuring that every detail — from pricing and preparation to storytelling and exposure — reflects the uniqueness of the home itself. Her work often centers on architecturally interesting properties and homes where thoughtful positioning can make a meaningful difference in outcome.
Throughout her career, Lynley has consistently ranked among the top real estate agents in Miami. She has been recognized as part of EWM's Chairman's Club, placing in the top 5% of the company; in 2022 she was honored as the #2 individual agent at the company overall with $37 million in annual sales; and she's a leader in Miami with Real Broker. With more than $100 million in career transactions and more than 60 5-star Google reviews, her experience spans a wide range of property types while maintaining a strong focus on seller representation in southern Miami.
Beyond her work with clients, Lynley is known locally for her market insight and community-focused content. Through her weekly newsletter, neighborhood videos, blog posts, and social media, she shares thoughtful perspectives on the Miami real estate market and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Her approach is informative without being overwhelming, offering homeowners a clear understanding of how market conditions affect real decisions.
If you're preparing to sell a home in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, or nearby areas, Lynley offers a local perspective shaped by experience, relationships, and a genuine understanding of what makes Miami homes so special. Learn more at lynleyresidential.com.