1. Hook
A sale can look routine right up to the moment it isn’t. A convincing email, a plausible seller, or one rushed wire can put a property or a large sum of money at risk.
For Broward County sellers and their agents, the answer is not panic. It is a calm, repeatable process: Verify Before Wire.
2. Truth
The threat is real. In its 2026 Seller Impersonation Fraud Study, the American Land Title Association reported that 59% of surveyed title firms had encountered at least one seller-impersonation fraud attempt in 2025. That was up from 28% in its 2024 survey. These are reported attempts, not proof that 59% of real estate deals were fraudulent.
In seller impersonation, a criminal pretends to own a property and tries to sell it, transfer it, or collect proceeds. Vacant land, properties with absentee owners, and properties owned free and clear can attract fraudsters. A forged deed may also be recorded to make an unauthorized ownership change appear legitimate.
Wire fraud can intersect with a sale, but it is a different tactic. In a recent Central Florida case, a homebuyer wired $38,805.17 after receiving instructions from an email address that differed from the legitimate title company’s address by just one domain detail. The title company never received the funds. News 6 reported in October 2026 that a man was charged in connection with the scheme and had pleaded not guilty. It was a wire-fraud case, not a completed seller-impersonation deed scheme, but it shows how a small detail can have serious consequences.
3. Lesson
The criminal only needs one mistake. The professional needs a repeatable system. A seller’s identity, ownership, communication details, and payment instructions should be checked through trusted channels, not accepted because a message looks familiar.
Kevin Tacher, The Title King and Founder and CEO of Independence Title, puts the mission simply: Verify Before Wire. In practice, that means slowing down when something changes, confirming it independently, and keeping the people involved in the transaction informed. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
4. Playbook: 7 red flags to catch
A single warning sign does not prove fraud. Several mismatches, pressure to skip checks, or an unusual request should prompt a pause and independent verification.
1. The property is vacant, remote, or owned by someone who is hard to reach.
Vacant land, second homes, and properties owned by people who live elsewhere can be easier for criminals to target. A seller who cannot meet in person may have a valid reason, but the transaction still needs a reliable identity check. Agents should flag the circumstances to the title team early.
2. The supposed seller avoids calls or meetings.
A seller who insists on communicating only by text or email, repeatedly misses scheduled calls, or refuses a reasonable video or in-person conversation deserves closer review. Do not rely on contact information supplied in a suspicious message. Use a phone number or email already verified through a trusted, independent source.
3. The seller pushes for a mail-away signing or their own notary.
A remote signing is not automatically suspicious. But ALTA identified requests for mail-away signings and seller-selected notaries among common warning signs. Ask the title company to review and approve the signing plan. Do not let a seller dictate a shortcut around established identity checks.
4. The seller’s identity, documents, or contact details do not line up.
Check for differences in names, signatures, addresses, identification, or ownership records. A mismatch may have an ordinary explanation, but it needs to be resolved before closing. Sellers should provide requested information only through a confirmed, secure process, not in response to an unexpected email or text asking for sensitive documents.
5. The deal comes with unusual urgency or a price that feels off.
A below-market price, a demand to close immediately, or pressure to skip normal steps can be part of a fraud attempt. Ask questions and compare the offer with the property and transaction history. Never treat “we have to do this today” as a reason to stop checking.
6. New payment instructions arrive by email or text.
A message that changes where, when, or how money should be sent needs a pause. Do not reply to the message or call the number included in it to confirm. Call a trusted number already on file and verify the instructions with the title company before transferring funds. The wire is never real until it is verified.
Independence Title also shares practical guidance on counterfeit wire instructions and wire fraud. Read it before funds are due, not while a wire is waiting to be sent.
7. No one is monitoring for an unauthorized deed.
Broward property owners can sign up for the Property Appraiser’s free Owner Alert service. It emails registered owners when a document changing ownership is received by the office and links to the recorded document. It is an alert, not a legal determination or a guarantee that fraud cannot happen. If you receive a notice for a change you did not authorize, contact the law-enforcement agency for the city where the property is located.
For sellers and agents: make this the routine. Confirm the title company’s contact details at the start of the transaction. Tell the title team about any unusual ownership or signing circumstances. Do not accept new payment instructions by email alone, and make sure everyone knows how to verify them independently. Keep a record of confirmed instructions and important calls.
A strong closing process depends on teamwork. If a message feels unusual, tell the title company and other relevant parties through known contact channels. If identity or ownership concerns surface, pause the transaction while the proper professionals review them. A pause is not a failure. It is a control.
5. Close
As the year winds down, take a few minutes to confirm your contact information, review how you will verify a future wire, and enroll in Broward’s Owner Alert if you own property in the county. For a pending sale, ask your title team what identity and wire-verification steps are in place. Independence Title offers title insurance information and a direct way to contact the team.
Kevin Tacher’s Verify Before Wire mission is about turning caution into a habit. That is how sellers, agents, and closing teams protect what matters most, with A Concierge Title Experience and no shortcuts on verification. Learn. Teach. Lead. Repeat.
What is your process for confirming a seller’s identity and wire instructions before closing?
This content is for general educational purposes only, not legal or tax advice. Title insurance coverage depends on the specific policy language and facts.
