Staying Safe in the Digital Wild West

In case you missed the Lone Star Relocation Summit last week in Fort Worth, here’s our recap of the session: “Honky Tonk Hackers: Staying Safe in the Digital Wild West – Real Estate Edition.” 

Let’s saddle up and ride through the highlights of one of the summit’s most timely panels — a conversation packed with real-world strategies that armed every title company, realtor, lender, and relocation professional with tools to protect their clients and their wires. 

The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center report set the stage: cyber-enabled fraud (email, phone, and urgent-wire schemes) drove nearly 85% of all reported losses last year — 452,868 complaints and a staggering $17.697 billion stolen. These attacks made up only 45% of complaints but accounted for 85% of the dollars lost. 

In real estate, two outlaws lead the charge: Business Email Compromise (BEC) and Tech/Customer Support scams. They spoof closing instructions, impersonate title officers or lenders, and strike at the moment of highest trust — exactly when wires are ready to fly. 

With that foundation in place, we were honored to welcome an outstanding panel of frontline experts: 

• Tine K.H. Dickey, Executive Vice President at Fidelity Residential Solutions  

• Nina Arnaiz, President at Premia Relocation Mortgage  

• Tess Chaney, Relocation Director at Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty  

Paige Holden, President of XONEX Relocation, moderated the discussion. Together we explored how BEC and tech-support scams are evolving, the unique role each of us plays in the relocation chain, and the best practices that turn every team member into a vigilant human firewall. 

Key Highlights from the Panel Discussion

Tine Dickey (Title & Escrow Perspective)

Tine opened by naming BEC as the number one threat in her world. These attacks almost always hit at the last minute with “updated” wiring instructions. Fraudsters compromise an email account (realtor, lender, or client), slip into the chain, and send messages that look legitimate — often with a tiny domain variation — directing funds to a new account. 

Her strongest advice: Never rely on email alone. Always verify changes by phone using a trusted number pulled straight from your closing documents or internal system — not from the email. Fidelity has had several close calls, and out-of-band verification stopped every one before the wire left. 

Nina Arnaiz (Mortgage & Relocation-Financing Lens)

Nina stressed early client education and secure portals. Premia Mortgage will never email wire instructions. They follow a strict policy: borrowers and others must call the title company directly to verify wiring details. The team also adds cyber-fraud warnings to every outgoing email, includes an educational link in signatures about confirming instructions with the settlement agent, and actively monitors for suspicious activity. If red flags appear in documents, email, or calls, they alert the right parties immediately. Routine cybersecurity phishing tests have sharpened the team’s ability to spot and stop schemes.

Her leading advice: Know your closing process.  When you understand how your closing should happen, you’ll be better equipped to spot fakes.

Tess Chaney (Realtor & Relocation-Director Trenches)

Tess shared real-world stories of phishing attempts hidden in everyday client and vendor emails. She also warned about the rise of fake rental and property-for-sale listings targeting relocation clients. These scams look completely legitimate with attractive prices and features, but the poster is not the actual owner or manager. Watch for: 

• Unusually low prices that seem too good to be true 

• Requests for upfront payments without viewing the property 

• Limited or no seller contact information 

• Roadside “for sale” signs with scant details 

Her call to action: Be diligent, always. Offer team-wide training and promote “out-of-band” verification — pick up the phone or use a separate channel whenever money is moving. 

What To Do if a Fraudster Ropes Your Transaction

We could not end the panel without addressing the worst case scenario.

Tine shared critical incident-response guidance: every second counts. Start immediately with the escrow company, where the funds are held. Each provider will activate its own protocol and authorities will be involved. Be ready to hand over all email exchanges and documentation so investigators can trace exactly where the fraudster entered the chain. 

Paige Holden (Closing Thoughts)

Paige wrapped the discussion by reminding everyone that technology is only half the solution. The other half is the human firewall — ongoing awareness, ruthless verification, trusted and vetted partners, and a culture that slows down just long enough at closing to double-check everything. 

Practical Takeaways – The Human Firewall Toolkit

Finally, the panel delivered a clear, ready-to-use trail map: 

1. Verify wiring instructions by phone using a number you independently confirm — never trust an email change. 

2. Use encrypted portals or secure apps instead of email for bank details or sensitive documents. 

3. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every email and financial account. 

4. Run regular team training with simulated BEC attacks so everyone spots the signs: urgency, odd grammar, or unexpected requests. 

5. Implement email security standards (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to block spoofing at the source. 

6. Adopt a “slow down at closing” rule — one extra verification can save the deal. 

7. Know your reporting chain: if something feels off, alert your IT/security team, contact the title company, and file with the FBI’s IC3 right away. 

Thank you again to Tine, Nina, and Tess for sharing your hard-earned expertise so generously. And thank you to the Lone Star Relocation Summit for hosting this vital conversation. 

If you missed the live session, consider this your official recap and call to action. Print the takeaways, share them with your team, and start building that stronger human firewall today. 

Stay sharp, stay secure, and keep those wires on the right path.