The Fake Closing Email: How a Wire-Fraud Near-Miss Was Stopped

Host Matthew Halliday opens with a true closing-room near-miss: a buyer was moments away from wiring funds to a criminal-controlled account after receiving a convincing 'updated' closing instruction. In this episode Matthew walks listeners through the timeline, the subtle red flags that gave the fraud away, and three durable defensive practices that protect buyers, sellers, and agents during escrow. You’ll get clear, actionable procedures for verifying wiring instructions, simple verification scripts you can use immediately, and technology plus human checks that actually work without slowing closing. The episode closes with a quick recap and a one-step checklist listeners can apply right away to reduce the single biggest transfer risk at closing. Perfect for first-time buyers, agents who want an easy protocol to adopt, and sellers who need to ensure safe receipt of funds.