In real estate, everything moves fast—and that’s exactly what cybercriminals count on. With massive financial transfers and personal data at stake, cybersecurity for real estate agents and title companies is more important than ever. In this post, I share how to stop wire fraud, prevent phishing scams, and protect your closings before they get hijacked.

Cybersecurity for Real Estate: How to Stop Hackers From Hijacking Closings

In the fast-paced world of real estate, cybersecurity is often the last thing on people’s minds—until it’s too late.

Big wire transfers. Tons of personal information. Clients moving quickly and trusting whatever shows up in their inbox. That’s a hacker’s dream scenario.

And with AI getting thrown into the mix, that’s exactly why cybersecurity for real estate is no longer optional—it’s critical.

As a cybersecurity speaker for real estate professionals, I’ve seen how one overlooked email can cost a buyer everything.

Let’s break down what’s really happening, and more importantly, what you can do to stop it.

The #1 Cyber Threat: Real Estate Wire Fraud

Wire fraud is one of the top 3 cyber attacks targeting real estate professionals today. Here’s how most wire transfer fraud in real estate happens:

1. A hacker gets into your or your client’s email account.

2. They sit quietly and monitor the conversation.

3. When it’s time to wire funds, they jump in with fake instructions that look 100% legit.

The buyer wires their down payment... and poof. The money’s gone.

Real Example: The $200,000 Disappearing Act

One brokerage I worked with as a cybersecurity trainer had a buyer lose almost $200,000. The attacker spoofed a title company email and sent updated wiring instructions right before closing.

The agent and buyer both thought it was legit.
It wasn’t.

Their down payment went straight into the hacker's accounts and was gove forever. No recourse, no options, no recovery of the funds.

This kind of email fraud in the home buying process is more common than most people realize—and it doesn’t just target big cities. It happens everywhere.

5 Cybersecurity Best Practices for Real Estate Professionals

Want to improve your real estate wire fraud prevention starting today? Start here:

1. Train your team on phishing scams in real estate
   Even experienced agents fall for convincing spoofed emails.

2. Use two-factor authentication (2FA)
   Especially for email, DocuSign, and your CRM.

3. Confirm wiring instructions by phone—every time
   Use a known number. Never trust the one in the email.

4. Protect client info with encryption
   Avoid sending unprotected social security numbers or banking info.

5. Have a response plan for cyber attacks
   Know how to act fast if you suspect fraud or a breach.

Title Company Cybersecurity Matters Too

If you run a title company, your systems are often the last line of defense. AI is being used to write convincing phishing emails and spoofed title instructions. Which means you need to make sure your team knows how to spot phishing scams and has a documented cybersecurity protocol in place.

Your clients trust you with their money and their identity. Don’t leave the door open to attackers.

Cybersecurity Is a Selling Point

Being the agent, broker, or title company who actually talks about security? That makes you stand out. Clients notice when you go the extra mile to protect their future.

Book a Cybersecurity Training for Your Team

I’m Mike Wright — The Security Guru — and I teach real estate professionals how to stop cyber threats before they hijack closings.

From title company cybersecurity workshops to team trainings for real estate brokerages, I make cybersecurity make sense—and make it stick.

Want your team trained by a cybersecurity speaker for real estate who knows how to keep it engaging, clear, and (yes) even a little fun?

➡️ Contact Me to learn more.