How should I safely verify wiring instructions before sending closing funds?
Call the closing attorney, title company, or settlement office using a phone number you already trust or independently verified. Do not use a phone number supplied only in the email containing the wire instructions. Ask the office to verbally confirm the complete instructions and the required method for delivering your funds before you initiate a transfer.
Treat any new, revised, or altered bank information as suspicious until you have confirmed it directly. If a message pressures you to act quickly, pause rather than letting the stated urgency override the verification process.
A safe verification checklist is:
- Obtain the closing office's phone number independently.
- Call the office yourself instead of responding to an unsolicited call.
- Verbally confirm the wiring instructions and acceptable payment method.
- Question any unexpected change, even when the message appears legitimate.
- Send funds only after the closing office resolves every discrepancy.
Why do buyers receive wiring instructions through secure communication and verify them by phone before sending funds for closing?
Real estate transactions are targets for wire fraud and phishing. A fraudulent message can imitate a trusted professional, so the sender name, logo, or email conversation alone does not establish that the instructions are genuine.
Secure communication helps protect sensitive closing information. A separate phone call to a verified number provides another way to confirm that the instructions actually came from the office handling the closing. The two-step process is especially important when an email announces a change or creates urgency.
How should I bring my cash to close, and how do I avoid wire fraud?
Ask the closing attorney or settlement office which forms of payment it accepts. Depending on its rules and the amount due, the office may direct you to use a wire transfer or a certified form of payment. Do not assume that a personal check or another payment method will be accepted.
If a wire is required, verify the instructions by calling a trusted number for the closing office. The Georgia closing costs guide explains other closing expenses buyers may encounter, while the closing office remains the source for how your funds must be delivered.
What should I do if I receive closing documents and wire instructions by email?
Review the documents carefully and ask your mortgage team or closing attorney about anything that appears incorrect, unexpected, or unclear. Do not rely only on the emailed wire instructions, even if the message appears to fit an existing conversation.
Call the closing office through a trusted, independently verified phone number and confirm the instructions verbally before sending money. Use the office's secure or encrypted communication method when returning documents that contain private financial information.
How can I safely send funds for a mortgage closing?
First, ask the closing office what payment methods it accepts. If you are instructed to wire the funds, independently call the closing attorney, title company, or settlement agent and verbally confirm the instructions before initiating the transfer.
Do not rely on a link, phone number, or replacement instructions found only in a new email. If the message differs from earlier information, stop and contact the office through a channel you already trust. The Georgia homebuyer timeline provides broader context for the steps leading from the initial mortgage process to closing.
How should I safely handle wiring funds for closing?
Treat wire instructions as highly sensitive. Keep them within the secure communication channels provided by the closing office, and do not send private financial details through unsecured email.
Before wiring funds, call the office at a trusted number and verbally confirm the instructions. Be especially cautious if an email claims the bank information has changed. Ask the office whether it requires a wire or permits a secure bank-issued check, because its rules may differ based on the funds being delivered.
How should I safely handle wiring instructions for an earnest money deposit or closing-related funds?
Use the same verification precautions for an earnest money deposit and other closing-related funds. Contact the attorney, settlement agent, or real estate professional involved in the transaction through a known, independently verified number before sending money.
Do not rely solely on contact details, links, or bank information contained in a new email. If the instructions seem unusual or conflict with earlier information, pause and report the discrepancy to your trusted transaction contact. Do not send private bank information by unsecured email.
Who should I contact to confirm wiring instructions before closing?
Contact the office responsible for conducting the closing, usually identified in your transaction as the closing attorney, title company, or settlement office. Call that office yourself using contact information obtained independently, rather than a phone number supplied only in an email or unsolicited call.
Verbally confirm the wiring instructions with the office before sending anything. If you are unsure which organization is handling the closing, ask your mortgage or real estate team to identify the correct office, then independently verify its contact information.
Who should I contact to verify wiring instructions before closing?
Call the closing attorney's office or other identified closing provider using a phone number you independently verified. Terminology can vary, so your paperwork might instead refer to a title company or settlement agent.
Do not rely solely on instructions delivered by email or during an unsolicited phone call, even when the person appears connected to your transaction. If the identity of the closing provider is unclear, ask your mortgage or real estate team for clarification before contacting the provider and confirming the instructions verbally.
