Riviera Maya · Quintana Roo
Wire Fraud Protection
How real estate wire fraud actually happens, and how to stop it
How Real Estate Wire Fraud Actually Works
The most common scheme is email interception: a criminal gains access to an agent, notario, or escrow companys email account, waits until a real closing is underway, then sends the buyer a spoofed email with updated wire instructions right before a scheduled transfer. The email looks legitimate because it references real transaction details the criminal has been silently monitoring for weeks.
Rule One: Never Trust Wire Instructions From Email Alone
Any change to wire instructions, no matter how official the email looks, must be verified by phone using a number you look up independently, not one provided in the email itself. Call your notario or escrow company directly and verbally confirm the receiving bank name, account number, and SWIFT code before sending a single dollar.
Verify the Receiving Account Independently
Before your first wire, ask your notario or trustee bank for account verification in writing, delivered through a channel you initiated, not one they initiated. For amounts above 50,000 USD, consider sending a small test wire of 1-2 USD first and confirming receipt before sending the full amount.
Watch for These Red Flags
Any last-minute change to wire instructions, especially near a closing deadline. Pressure to act quickly without time to verify. Slightly altered email domains. Requests to wire to an account under a different name than the notario or escrow company you have been working with throughout the transaction.
If You Suspect Fraud Has Already Occurred
Contact your bank immediately and request a wire recall. The first hours matter most for any chance of reversal. File a report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center if you are a US citizen, and notify your notario and the receiving bank in Mexico. Reversal is not guaranteed once funds clear, which is exactly why prevention matters more than response.
Why This Risk Is Elevated for Cross-Border Mexican Real Estate
International wires typically cannot be reversed once cleared, transactions often involve buyers who have never met their notario or escrow company in person, and the multi-week closing timeline of a fideicomiso creates a long window for a criminal to intercept communications and study a live deal.
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