It’s time to talk about CloseSimple! This portal is one of the tools the Wheatland Title Family of Companies uses to make real estate transaction smoother and more convenient for you and your clients.
Known as the Pizza Tracker for Title, CloseSimple has built its reputation as a communication tool that helps streamline the closing process for all parties by keeping everyone on the same page. However, it’s much more than that these days. It also helps us combat wire fraud.
Here’s how: First, we know most hackers gain access to a real estate transaction through a weakly secured email account. Thanks to our partnership with CloseSimple, all updates regarding your transaction are handled on a secure platform branded with our logo and colors. While we’re always available via email, Wheatland Title encourages all correspondence regarding documents/wire instructions to be handled through the CloseSimple platform.
Secondly, CloseSimple has two identification checks built into its system – Early Scan and ID Verification. Having these helps us ward off cybercriminals, especially when it comes to seller impersonation fraud. This enables us to confirm the identities of buyers and sellers well before any money changes hands. If there’s a red flag, such as a mismatched name, an unusual signature or an unknown phone number, this system will alert us, and our team will conduct due diligence to ensure your seller – or buyer – is who they claim to be.
While we utilize CloseSimple and other resources to keep all our transactions more secure, it’s essential to continue discussing the dangers of wire fraud with anyone who will listen. In honor of National Cybersecurity Month this October, here are a few tips from the American Land Title Association to always keep in mind.
Continue to warn your clients about scammers early and often. Spell out exactly what will happen during the closing process, remind them that any last-minute changes to the plan are unlikely and tell them to always check with you – or us – if something seems off.
Use multi-factor authentication and strong passwords to protect your email and other accounts.
Remember, cybercriminals are getting smarter. They’re using AI and public records to seem more authentic. Don’t assume hackers will make grammar mistakes like they did a few years ago.
If you have questions about CloseSimple or anything else Wheatland Title does or uses to make your transaction easier and more secure, let us know. We’re always happy to talk to you!
