Sound Off:

To protect my clients’ information I have them provide their Social Security Number and financial documents directly to the lender, even when I’ve referred them.

When providing proof of funds, I have the lender list only the amount we need for the purchase in the letter, without divulging other assets and I’m circumspect about how much information I share about my client, for reasons of security and negotiation.

There have been scams where a buyer wires money to a thief instead of the title company, so I remind my clients to call the title company before initiating the wire.

Clients get emails allegedly from an escrow company or from their real estate agent providing wiring information for them to wire monies on the real estate purchase.

Check your cell phone’s signal strength prior to and have emergency numbers programmed in.

At that meeting ask for and make a copy of their ID and mention that your office keeps a copy on file for a period of time.

Recently criminals/hackers have been targeting the email accounts of various parties involved in real estate transactions such as title and escrow officers, mortgage brokers and real estate professionals.

The hackers then send fraudulent wiring instructions to clients who unknowingly wire their funds (deposits or cash to close) to the hackers banks account.

Always personally verify wiring instructions on the telephone using the telephone number you normally use to contact the escrow officer, do not call the number shown on the email.

Jewelry, cash, check books, and other valuables should be placed in your own safe deposit box while the property is on the market.