Wire Fraud Warning

Don Mosich will never email or text you wiring instructions, and will never ask you to change them. If you receive a message like that, even one that looks like it came from Don, an escrow officer or a lender, treat it as fraud.

How the scam works

Criminals hack or imitate email accounts and send buyers and sellers fake wiring instructions, often just before closing. The messages look real and can come from addresses that are almost identical to the real ones. Once money is wired to the wrong account, it is very hard to get back.

Before you wire money

• Call your escrow officer to confirm the wiring instructions, using a phone number you have verified yourself, such as one from your escrow paperwork or the company's official website. Never use a phone number or link from the email asking you to wire.
• Be suspicious of any last-minute change to wiring instructions or account details, and of any message that pressures you to act fast.
• After you wire, call escrow again to confirm the money arrived.
• Never send bank account numbers, wiring details or Social Security numbers by email or text.

If you think you've been targeted

• Call your bank right away and ask them to stop or recall the wire.
• Call your escrow officer and Don at (949) 742-0314.
• Report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.