Buying a home in South Tampa’s 33606 ZIP code—whether it’s a historic Hyde Park property, a Davis Islands home, or a residence near Bayshore—can be an exciting milestone. But as Emeri and Joe Lewkowicz often remind their clients, the final steps of a real estate transaction deserve just as much attention as finding the right property.
After more than 40 years of combined real estate experience, Emeri and Joe have seen how many moving parts come together before closing. One risk they want every buyer, seller, and investor to understand is real estate wire fraud.
Wire fraud occurs when criminals impersonate a real estate agent, title company, attorney, lender, or other trusted party and convince a buyer to send closing funds to a fraudulent bank account. Florida Realtors has warned that scammers can monitor transactions, compromise email accounts, and use legitimate transaction details to make fraudulent instructions appear authentic.
For a buyer purchasing in 33606, the good news is that a few simple habits can dramatically reduce the risk.
Never Assume an Email Is Legitimate
One of the most important rules Emeri and Joe share with clients is simple: never rely on an email alone when money is involved.
A fraudulent message may contain the correct property address, closing date, names of the parties, and even a professional-looking signature. That is what makes these scams so convincing.
Be especially cautious if you receive a last-minute email saying that the title company has changed its bank account, routing number, or wire instructions. An unexpected change should always trigger a phone call for verification.
Verify Wire Instructions by Phone
Before sending your down payment or closing funds, independently contact your title company or closing agent.
Do not simply call the phone number contained in the suspicious email. Instead, use a trusted number from earlier transaction documents, a previously verified contact, or the title company's official website.
Then verbally confirm the complete wire instructions—including the receiving bank, account information, and amount—before authorizing the transfer.
As Emeri and Joe tell their clients, when hundreds of thousands of dollars are moving, taking five minutes to make a verification call is time well spent.
Watch for Pressure and Urgency
Scammers often create a sense of urgency: Send the funds immediately. We need them today. Closing could be delayed.
That pressure is intentional.
A legitimate closing professional should understand that buyers need time to verify financial instructions. If something suddenly feels different from what you've been told previously, stop before sending anything and contact your trusted real estate and closing professionals.
Confirm With Your Bank, Too
Your bank is another important layer of protection. Once your title company has verified the instructions, speak with your bank about the transfer and carefully review the information before submitting the wire.
After sending the funds, confirm with the title or closing company that they were received. If you discover that you may have sent money to the wrong account, contact your bank, title company, and real estate professionals immediately. Speed matters when attempting to stop or recover fraudulent funds.
Local Knowledge Matters Beyond Finding the Right Home
For Emeri and Joe Lewkowicz, representing a buyer isn't simply about finding a beautiful home in South Tampa. It's about helping clients navigate the entire transaction—from the initial search and negotiation through inspections, financing, due diligence, and closing.
With more than four decades of combined experience serving the Tampa market, they understand that protecting a client's interests means paying attention to the details that can easily be overlooked during an exciting purchase.
Their best advice for a 33606 buyer is straightforward: slow down, verify, and never assume.
Your South Tampa home deserves a secure closing, too. Working with experienced professionals who understand both the local market and the closing process can give you greater confidence when it's time to move your money and receive your keys.
For buyers, sellers, and investors looking for experienced Tampa real estate guidance, The Lewkowicz Group brings local knowledge and decades of experience to every transaction. The Lewkowicz Group
