04/20

Email is how business gets done in 2023 – and it’s been that way for years. But if you haven’t upgraded your email account or its security, you may be the perfect target for wire fraudsters. We don’t mean to be blunt, but in a world where $6.9 billion was lost across all sectors due to wire fraud in 2021, it’s more important than ever to use every tactic possible to protect your clients. 

Here are three things to keep in mind on this topic:

Preparing for safety

One of the most common wire fraud tactics is phishing, when fraudsters use a similar email address to contact your clients to steal their personal information. That’s why ensuring your clients are only familiar with your business email address is critical. If your clients are accustomed to being contacted by multiple email accounts, they could be more susceptible to a hacker impersonating either of your accounts. Educating your customers to confirm that every message is from your one and only email address makes them far less likely to be deceived. 

Best servers. Best service

Use the power of your broker’s server to your advantage. Business email servers often come with advanced security features provided by the email service or an IT department. These features may include encryption, spam filter, and two-factor authentication (2FA). Using a personal email strips you of all of these protections. 

Terrific tactics

Now that you know why to never use your personal email, use these tactics to ensure your business communication is as secure as possible:

• Enable two-factor authentication.
• Use encryption and spam filtering services.
• Regularly update passwords and use strong, unique passwords for each account.
• Skip email altogether when sharing sensitive information, and consider using a secure messaging platform or client portal instead.

We can all talk about the dangers of wire fraud forever, but all it takes is for anyone – or anything – involved to be the weak link. Make sure your email is as strong as ever, and let’s all keep our guard up when it comes to cybercriminals and real estate fraudsters of all kinds. 

Thank you for trusting our teams to go the extra mile for you and your clients when it comes to security and service. We love being the title and closing provider for you!