Why this matters
Wire fraud prevention doesn't require new technology or major process changes. It requires one habit: never accepting wiring instructions over email without independent verification. Here's how to build that habit into every transaction.
The Wire Fraud Prevention Protocol
Use Secure Channels for Wiring Instructions
Share all wiring instructions through Garded — an encrypted link rather than an email attachment or body. Even if your email is compromised, the instructions remain inaccessible to fraudsters.
Verify by Phone Before Every Wire
Call the recipient — using a number sourced from their official website or your verified contacts, not from any email — and confirm the routing and account number verbally before initiating the transfer.
Treat Any Change as a Red Flag
Legitimate parties almost never change wiring instructions mid-transaction. Any request to update banking details should trigger immediate in-person or video verification before any action is taken.
Educate Every Party in the Transaction
Wire fraud works because one party in the chain is uninformed. Make sure every buyer, seller, and agent you work with knows the verification protocol before the transaction begins.
Secure vs. Insecure Wiring Instruction Delivery
What not to do
- Email wiring instructions as a PDF attachment
- Include account numbers in the body of an email
- Send updated instructions without a same-day phone verification
- Rely on the buyer to verify instructions independently
- Use personal email accounts for any transaction communication
What to do instead
- Deliver instructions through a Garded encrypted link
- Confirm all account details by phone before the wire date
- Establish a verification protocol at transaction start
- Educate buyers on the verification requirement at first meeting
- Use professional email with two-factor authentication for all transaction communication
Verification steps for for sale by owner (fsbo) transactions
- Insist on using a licensed title company for all FSBO closings — earnest money and closing funds must go through escrow
- Never send any money to the seller directly at any stage of a FSBO transaction
- If the seller resists using a title company, consult a real estate attorney before proceeding
Protect Every Closing From Wire Fraud — Starting Now
Share wiring instructions securely through Garded. Free to start.
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