The Quick Answer (What You Need to Know First)

Can you lose money to wire fraud when buying a home?

Yes—and it happens more often than most people realize.
Buyers receive what looks like a legitimate email with wiring instructions, send funds, and later discover the money went to a fraudulent account.

The hardest part?
By the time it's discovered, the money is often gone.

Why This Happens More Than People Think

Buying a home involves:

• Lenders
• Attorneys
• Agents
• Title companies

…and a lot of emails.

Somewhere in that process, hackers can:

• Monitor communication
• Mimic email addresses
• Send "updated" wiring instructions that look completely legitimate

To a buyer, it feels routine.

To a fraudster, it's an opportunity.

What Makes These Emails So Convincing

These are not obvious scams.

They often:

• Use real names from your transaction
• Reference your actual closing timeline
• Look identical to emails you've already received

Sometimes the only difference is:

• One letter in an email address
• A slight change in wording
• A sense of urgency

And that urgency is intentional.

The Moment It Typically Happens

It usually shows up right when you're already overwhelmed:

• You're close to closing
• You're coordinating multiple steps
• You're trying to stay on track

Then an email arrives:

"Here are your wiring instructions for closing."

It feels like the next step.

And that's where people get caught.

The Rule That Protects You (Every Time)

There is one simple rule that can prevent this entirely:

Never trust wiring instructions sent by email.

Instead:

• Call your closing attorney directly
• Use a verified phone number (not one from the email)
• Confirm instructions verbally before sending any funds

It takes a few extra minutes.

But it removes almost all risk.

What I Tell My Clients

Before anyone wires money, I always make sure they know this:

• You will not receive last-minute changes to wiring instructions by email
• If something feels urgent or different, pause
• We verify everything before money moves

Because once funds are sent to the wrong place, recovering them is extremely difficult.

Why This Matters in Charleston

In our area, many transactions involve:

• Relocation buyers
• Tight timelines
• Remote communication

That combination increases risk.

Not because anything is being done wrong—
but because there are more moving pieces.

What This Really Comes Down To

This isn't about being suspicious.

It's about being intentional with one step that carries real financial weight.

Buying a home already requires trust.

Making sure your money goes where it's supposed to
should never be left to assumption.

Final Thought

You're not just hiring someone to open doors.

You're trusting someone to help you navigate moments like this—
the ones that don't happen often, but matter when they do.

And sometimes, the best guidance isn't about what to do next.

It's about knowing when to slow down and double-check.

Bonnie Wicks, licensed as Bonnie Jean Wicks Bertalot, is an Associate Broker with Carolina One Real Estate serving Mount Pleasant, Charleston, and surrounding Lowcountry communities.