Independent Title Insurance Agents Still Face Business Email Compromise and Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

In the title insurance and settlement world, trust/speed is everything and cybercriminals continue to weaponize it.

Independent Title Insurance Agents remain prime targets for Business Email Compromise (BEC) and Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks because every closing involves what attackers value most: sensitive personal data, wire instructions, and high-dollar transfers.

Despite industry awareness campaigns and years of warnings, BEC remains the #1 cyber threat in real estate transactions. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, U.S. businesses lost over $20 billion to BEC scams between 2013 and 2023 with title and escrow firms among the hardest hit (FBI/IC3, 2024).

Attackers don’t need to break in through complex zero-days vulnerabilities; they simply impersonate trusted senders or insert themselves into legitimate email threads at the perfect moment.

Large underwriters often have large dedicated security teams and layered defenses. Independent agents, however, typically operate lean and juggle closings, compliance, and client communications. This leaves limited time and resources for cybersecurity. Yet, it’s precisely these smaller agencies that attackers target, knowing that speed and trust often outweigh verification.

The good news? Most of these attacks can be stopped with a handful of disciplined, practical steps that don’t require underwriter budgets.

9 Immediate Actions for Independent Title Agencies

1. Require dual verification for all wire instruction changes.

   Always confirm wire changes using a known, verified phone number before executing. Never trust emailed changes no matter what, even from familiar names.

   
   

2. Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all email accounts.

   Use app-based MFA (or hardware keys) for Office 365, Google Workspace, and logins.

   
   

3. Implement and monitor DMARC, DKIM, and SPF records.

   These email authentication protocols prevent domain spoofing and provide visibility into who is sending on your behalf.

   
   

4. Add a mandatory 24-hour hold or second-person review for large wires.

   A short delay adds an extra layer of scrutiny and often enough to detect fraudulent instructions before funds are lost.

   
   

5. Conduct monthly BEC-focused training for staff and clients.

   Simulate real-estate-specific phishing. Awareness fades fast and repetition saves transactions.

   
   

6. Enable financial system alerts for changes to beneficiary accounts.

   Configure automated alerts for any vendor or account changes so you can validate anomalies before approving payment

   
   

7. Ensure cyber insurance covers BEC and wire fraud.

   Know exactly what your policy requires to trigger coverage and how to preserve evidence during response.

   
   

8. Disable automatic email forwarding.

   One of the simplest but most overlooked defenses. Attackers rely on auto-forwarding rules to silently exfiltrate email threads and conceal activity. If forwarding is disabled, they can’t hide their tracks or maintain persistent access.

   
   

9. Validate and properly configure your secure email gateway.

   Many agencies invest in email protection tools but never optimize them. Ensure your Secure Email Gateway (SEG) filter is configured to block impersonation attempts, detect anomalies, and quarantine suspicious attachments or links.

The Armes Vantage Point

BEC and MITM attacks are not sophisticated; they are opportunistic. Criminals target independent title agencies because attackers know that closings move fast, email is trusted, and every minute counts. But speed should never come at the cost of verification.

At Armes Vantage, we help title and settlement professionals design practical, right-sized security programs that balance workflow efficiency with strong controls, without enterprise complexity. Implementing these nine measures can reduce your attack surface immediately, often within days.

If your agency is ready to harden its wire-fraud defenses and assess your current risk posture, reach out. We specialize in helping independent title agents build cybersecurity programs that protect both client trust and business continuity.