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
Because wire transfers are a normal part of legitimate real estate closings, buyers are primed to trust wiring instructions, and scammers posing as inspectors or appraisers exploit that familiarity to slip in a fraudulent request.
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
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.