Imagine logging into your title agency’s website one morning and realizing it’s been copied — same logo, same colors, same friendly photo of your team. Only it’s not yours.
Welcome to the newest version of wire fraud. Criminals are no longer just hacking inboxes. They’re cloning entire title company websites, opening bank accounts under those same names, and stealing closing funds from unsuspecting buyers.
According to a September 2025 report from Florida Realtors, scammers are “creating nearly identical websites of legitimate title companies, using stolen business names and EINs to trick buyers into wiring money to fraudulent accounts.” Source: Florida Realtors, Fake Title Company Websites Fuel Real Estate Scam, September 2025.
Why This Scam Hits So Hard
This isn’t your typical email spoof. It’s deeper — and more personal.
- They weaponize your brand.
Fraudsters use your good name, logo, and web domain style to earn trust fast. - They hijack your credibility.
Even if you catch the scam early, clients start asking if your website is real. - They drain confidence across the deal chain.
Lenders, buyers, and Realtors lose faith in digital communication — even the legitimate kind.
As the Florida Realtors report notes, the scammers’ sites look “professional and complete,” often showing up in Google results. It’s identity theft at the business level.
How to Protect Your Title Firm — Starting Today
- Guard your domain like your escrow account.
Register similar domain names (.net, .biz, or common misspellings). Use domain monitoring tools that alert you when someone tries to imitate your site. - Authenticate your email.
Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC on your company domain. This makes it much harder for imposters to send “official” messages from a fake version of your firm. - Add visible trust cues to your website.
Show your underwriter logos, ALTA membership, and verified contact details prominently. Scammers rarely go to that depth. - Make verbal verification non-negotiable.
Never approve a wire or change wiring instructions by email alone. Confirm verbally with a known phone number, not one listed in an email or website. - Create a staff alert culture.
If something feels off, speak up — no shame, no hesitation. Fraudsters rely on politeness and distraction.
A Real Florida Example
In one recent case highlighted by Florida Realtors, a buyer wired their full closing funds to a cloned site that used the exact name and logo of a legitimate title company. The real firm had no idea the clone existed until the buyer called, furious that the funds never arrived.
By then, the money had been transferred overseas, and recovery chances were slim.
The firm’s owner told investigators, “We didn’t lose the money, but we lost sleep — and trust.”
Your Next Move
Wire fraud tactics are evolving faster than most security policies. That’s where a managed IT partner who understands the title industry’s risk profile becomes essential.
At CMIT Solutions of Fort Lauderdale, we help title and escrow agencies:
- Monitor domains and stop impersonation before it spreads
- Secure email systems with DMARC, DKIM, and impersonation defense
- Train staff to spot cloned websites and spoofed wire requests
Because protecting your clients’ money means protecting your name, too.
Let’s talk about locking down your brand and your bank wires before the next scammer finds you.
