Fake Home Inspection & Appraisal Scam via Wire Transfer
Scammers posing as inspectors or appraisers request wire transfers for services never performed, often timed around real estate closings when wiring money feels routine.
Part of: Fake Home Inspection / Appraisal Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Wire transfers are a routine, legitimate part of real estate transactions, so a wiring request during a purchase rarely triggers suspicion. This scam exploits that expectation: someone posing as the assigned inspector or appraiser, often contacting the buyer just after a genuine appointment is scheduled so the names and address check out, asks for the fee by wire before the visit. In other versions, a compromised or spoofed email thread delivers 'updated wiring instructions' mid-transaction. The distinction that matters most: any new or changed payment instructions arriving by email deserve a phone call to a number you verified independently.
How this scam works on wire transfer
A scammer contacts a home buyer claiming to be the inspector or appraiser assigned to the property, sometimes timed right after a real inspection has been scheduled so the name and property address check out. They request payment for the inspection or appraisal fee via wire transfer before the appointment, providing bank details that route to an account the scammer controls, then either perform a rushed, low-quality 'inspection' or never show up at all, citing a scheduling issue and promising a refund that never comes.
This scam often overlaps with business email compromise: a scammer intercepts or spoofs an email thread between the buyer, agent, and title company, then inserts a message with 'updated wiring instructions' for the inspection fee that redirect the payment to a fraudulent account, exploiting the buyer's expectation that wire instructions will arrive by email during a real estate transaction.
Common red flags
- Inspection or appraisal fee requested via wire transfer before the appointment, rather than paid at the time of service
- Wiring instructions arrive by email with a last-minute change from previously provided details
- Inspector or appraiser cannot be verified through a state licensing board
- No physical business address or verifiable company website
- Pressure to wire funds quickly to keep the scheduled appointment
- Communication only through email with no phone number that connects to a real person
How to protect yourself
- Verify any inspector or appraiser's license through your state's licensing board before paying anything
- Call a known, independently verified phone number to confirm wiring instructions before sending money
- Be suspicious of any 'updated' wiring instructions that arrive by email during a transaction
- Pay inspection and appraisal fees at the time of service when possible, rather than in advance by wire
- Confirm the inspector's identity and company details with your real estate agent or title company
- Set up a verbal code word with your agent and title company for any changes to payment instructions
How to report it
- Report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov), especially if email compromise is suspected
- Contact your bank's wire fraud department immediately after sending funds
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Report to your state's home inspector or appraiser licensing board
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify an inspector or appraiser is who they claim to be before wiring a fee?
Look up the inspector or appraiser's license number on your state's licensing board website and call the phone number listed there, not one provided by the person who contacted you. Cross-check that the name and license match the company your real estate agent or title company actually scheduled.
Why do scammers target the inspection or appraisal fee specifically during a home purchase?
Buyers are already expecting several wire transfers and unfamiliar names during closing, so a request tied to a real, scheduled step like an inspection blends in easily. Scammers exploit that expectation of routine wiring activity to slip in a fraudulent request without raising immediate suspicion.
What should I do immediately if I suspect I wired money to a fake inspector?
Call your bank's wire fraud department right away to request a recall attempt, then report the incident to IC3.gov and your real estate agent or title company so they can alert other clients. Acting within the first hours gives the best, though still limited, chance of stopping the funds before they're withdrawn.
Is it normal to wire money for a home inspection before it happens?
Most legitimate inspectors and appraisers collect payment at the time of service or through a standard invoice, not a wire transfer requested in advance — treat any pre-payment-by-wire request as a warning sign.
What should I do if I get an email with 'updated' wiring instructions?
Never act on wiring instructions received only by email. Call a phone number you already have on file, not one in the email, to verbally confirm any change before sending money.