If you want to protect clients and show real value, don’t wait until the “wire email” shows up. Set the expectations at the first consultation, then repeat them right before funds move. Start with a simple line: scams spike during escrow, and the #1 target is wiring money.
Give clients 3 rules:
Rule 1: Never blindly trust wire instructions that are emailed or texted to you.
Rule 2: Verify wire instructions by phone back to you or the direct Escrow/Title company at a known number, not some new number provided in the wire instructions email.
Rule 3: When in doubt, pause and call you (their Lender) before providing any personal information.
Teach the red flags that clients can recognize fast:
A sudden text from “escrow”.
Last minute wire changes.
Urgent pressure to send funds same day.
An email address that is slightly off.
Requests to keep it quiet or move quickly.
Anything that feels unusual compared to how communication has been happening.
Make it easy for them to do the right thing. Hand them a one page contact sheet with your phone number, escrow, title, and lender, plus the exact verification steps. Tell them you’d rather get multiple “is this legit?” calls from them, rather than a single panicked call after their money is gone.
Pacific Direct Mortgage bottom line
If your client is using private money or a bridge loan and needs to wire funds, these same rules apply. Verify instructions by phone before sending anything! A quick check protects the entire transaction.
Husband & Wife Team Phone: 707‑708‑0797 / Office: 1400 N. Dutton Ave #22 Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Ken: CA DRE Broker #01858042 / NMLS #1221130 Ari: CA DRE #01858152 / NMLS #2170867 Ken & Ari are a husband & wife team with combined 3+ decades in real estate and private money industries. They own Pacific Direct Mortgage & Real Estate, specializing in Private Money loans (also known as Hard Money home loans). Having helped thousands of Borrowers & working directly with Brokers, Agents and Lenders to help when needed with fast, flexible, alternative financing for real estate purchases and refinances throughout California. No issues with DTI ratios, credit issues, property condition, difficult to prove income ‑ we want to help!
Comments(4)