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    Security Alert

    🛡️ How Empire Saved a Richmond, Indiana Couple from a $92,000 Email Scam

    "They never even saw the fake email—because Empire's IT team shut it down before it hit their inbox."

    August 22, 2025
    6 min read
    Empire IT saves client from email scam — modern illustration with alert on screen and happy couple on monitor

    Quick Answer: Wire Fraud Prevention

    The threat: A $92,000 wire fraud scam targeting Richmond homebuyers.

    How we stopped it: Empire's fraud filters caught a spoofed email before it reached the client.

    Key red flag: Domain swap ("EmpireTitIeService.com" with capital "i" instead of "l").

    Your protection: Always verify wire instructions by phone using a known number.

    Josh and Kendra were days away from closing on their dream home in Richmond—three-bed Cape Cod near Glen Miller Park. Final walkthrough: scheduled. Wire instructions: sent. Everything looked perfect.

    Until a second email showed up—eerily similar to the first. Same order number. Same subject line. Same friendly sign-off. But a completely different bank account.

    Here's the twist: They never saw it.

    🎯 Empire's IT Team Catches It First

    Our fraud filters flagged the email instantly.

    The sender? "EmpireTitIeService.com" (with a capital "i" instead of an "l" in "Title"). That one tiny switch was enough to fool most spam filters—but not ours.

    Within minutes, our IT team quarantined the message, reviewed the metadata, and notified the closing officer. The client? Still blissfully unaware anything had gone wrong.

    That's how it should be.

    🔐 This is the fake email we intercepted. Can YOU spot the difference?

    Infographic showing empiretitleservice.com vs empiretitIeservice.com with highlighted red flags

    🔍 Email Spoofing Happens More Than You Think

    Wire fraud statistics showing $446 million lost in 2023 with FBI data

    According to the FBI, wire fraud in real estate hit $446 million in 2023. In Indiana and western Ohio, attempts are rising—especially in the week before closing.

    This one could've cost Josh and Kendra $92,000. But it didn't. Because we caught it.

    ✅ How Empire Keeps Clients Safe

    🛡️ Pro Tip: What We Do Behind the Scenes

    🔒 Real-time fraud monitoring

    Across all email systems

    📬 Secure portals

    For wiring instructions—never plain email

    📞 Verification calls

    Before any funds move

    🎓 Ongoing training

    Fraud detection for all team members

    What Our Clients Never Saw

    There was no panic. No phone call from the bank. No wired funds vanishing into the void.

    Josh and Kendra showed up to closing, smiled for photos, and walked away with keys in hand.

    Because the threat never made it to them.

    Three-panel comic: Empire IT catches red flag, internal alert sent, happy couple closes with keys in hand

    Want This Kind of Backup?

    You shouldn't have to be a cybersecurity expert to buy a home.

    With Empire, you don't just get a title company—you get a full team watching your back.

    👀 Test Your Skills

    Think you could've spotted that fake email? Take our "Spoof Spotting Challenge" on Instagram. Top scorers win Empire swag—and bragging rights.

    Take the Challenge

    Red Flags to Watch For

    • •Domain changes (like swapping 'l' with 'i' in EmpireTitIeService.com or 'o' with '0')
    • •Urgent tone or pressure to wire funds quickly
    • •Last-minute changes to bank account information
    • •Messages arriving outside business hours
    • •Requests to bypass normal verification procedures

    Always verify with a phone call to a known number before wiring any funds!

    Ready for Peace of Mind?

    Don't leave your biggest investment vulnerable to scammers. Choose a title company with military-grade security protocols. Choose Empire Title Service.

    Place an Order TodayGet a Quote

    Related Articles

    → Why Richmond Homebuyers Choose Empire Title Company→ The Closing Survival Kit: 5 Pro Moves for a Stress-Free FinishView All Articles →

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How does Empire Title prevent wire fraud?

    Empire uses real-time monitoring, secure portals, mandatory verification calls, and ongoing staff training to intercept scams before they reach clients.

    What are signs of a spoofed title company email?

    Look for domain changes (like swapping an 'l' with an 'i' in EmpireTitIeService.com), urgent tone, last-minute bank changes, and off-hour messages. Always verify with a phone call to a known number.

    About Empire Title Service Security

    Empire Title Service employs advanced cybersecurity measures to protect every client transaction. Our IT security team monitors for fraud 24/7, ensuring your real estate closing is safe from scammers and cybercriminals. With over 20 years of experience in Indiana and western Ohio, we've never had a client lose money to wire fraud.