Wires took over because they are simply better for moving large sums, and yes, the scam risk came along with them. A wire moves bank to bank, usually posts the same day when sent before the cutoff, and carries a tracking number. A cashier's check can be counterfeited, so escrow companies now make checks clear the bank before closing, which takes a couple of days. On an $800,000 purchase with a $200,000 down payment (illustrative figures), escrow will not close on an uncleared six-figure check. The wire keeps the deal moving. The tradeoff is wire fraud, and it is serious. Scammers hack email accounts, pose as your escrow or title company, and send fake updated wiring instructions. We personally know of several real estate and lending professionals caught up in wire thefts running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. A fast catch sometimes lets the bank reverse the transfer; once the money reaches a foreign account, it is usually gone. For most people, a home purchase is the largest wire they will ever send, which makes buyers a prime target. The danger peaks at the end of escrow, when everyone is busy and excited and a fake instruction change is easiest to miss. So one rule, non-negotiable: never wire money on emailed instructions alone. Call the escrow or title company at a number you verified independently, confirm the details by voice, then send.