Wire Fraud ALERT!

We’ve been warning clients about this for quite some time. Some unfortunate folks have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions via fraudulent wire transfers. Emails aren’t secure so hackers can all too easily see the contents. They set up a fake wire transfer account and then send you an email saying to send funds to it. When we first start working together, we’ll give you the legitimate phone number for the title company when you’re a buyer and we’ll help you confirm the title company contact info when you’re the seller. In person. Not via email. It’s serious. Very serious.

This email came to a client of ours a while back:

From: Shelly <titleclosingllc@gmail.com>
THE NAME OF AN ACTUAL PARALEGAL AT THE TITLE COMPANY, BUT NOT HER EMAIL ADDRESS

Date: Thu, May 5, 2022, 11:16 AM

Subject: Cash To Close XXXX HIGHLAND AVENUE LOUISVILLE, KY 40204
CORRECT ADDRESS, XXXX, REPLACED NUMBER FOR PRIVACY

To: <XXXXXXXXXX@gmail.com> 
CORRECT CLIENT EMAIL

Cc: PETEKIRVEN@GMAIL.COM <realtor-agent@comcast.net> 
MY CORRECT EMAIL WHERE “NAME” GOES, SO THIS NEVER CAME TO ME, BECAUSE @COMCAST.NET IS WHERE IT WENT.  NOT TO ME.

Hello XXXXX, CORRECT CLIENT NAME USED THROUGHOUT

Congratulations on the final steps of your purchase of XXXX HIGHLAND AVENUE LOUISVILLE, KY 40204

Your closing has been scheduled and CLEARED TO CLOSE, You need to have Cash to close funds wired to our trust account today to avoid closing delay, So that funds can clear in our account on time for closing. I will send the wire instructions once you have acknowledged the receipt of this email, I will be busy with limited access to my phone. You can send me an email if you need anything else.

NONSENSE! CLOSING ISN’T FOR 2 WEEKS YET AND NOBODY IS TOO BUSY TO TAKE A CALL WHEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS ARE AT STAKE!

Thank  you.

Shelly                                      
CORRECT PARALEGAL NAME, COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS, CLOSE BUT FAKE PHONE NUMBERS

Wetterer & Clare Attorneys
Kentucky Title Services, Inc.
2933 Bowman Avenue
Louisville, Ky 40205
Phone:  (502) 451-2030  
CHANGED PHONE NUMBER FROM 3030 TO 2030
Fax:  (502) 451-4526    
CHANGED FAX NUMBER FROM 4516 TO 4526

DON’T EVER RESPOND TO WIRING INSTRUCTION EMAILS.  EVER. BAD GUYS ARE OUT THERE!

Photo by Azamat E. on Unsplash.