- LOAN PORTAL
A private lending firm recently came terrifyingly close to losing $645,000 in a highly sophisticated wire fraud scheme—disguised as a routine transactional funding deal. Their experience is a sobering reminder of how quickly things can go wrong, even for experienced teams with safeguards in place.
The fraud began with what appeared to be a standard A-to-B-to-C transaction using transactional funding—a short-term bridge loan that allows an investor to buy and resell a property on the same day.
But what seemed routine was actually the opening act in a calculated social engineering scheme. The fraudster impersonated a national title company, using professional emails, templated documents, and even the name of a real branch manager. Every detail seemed legitimate… at first.
“In hindsight, that initial interaction was a reconnaissance mission; it was our first glimpse of a fraudster preparing to launch a sophisticated social engineering scheme.”
When the deal failed to close on schedule, the “title company” gave a believable excuse—another borrower needed to close first. But then the wire wasn’t returned. That’s when internal red flags began to fly.
The lender’s team noticed:
Grammatical errors in emails
Odd domain names (e.g., a “.org” pretending to be a title company)
Unusual urgency and templated communication
A mismatch between provided contact info and independent sources
“The title company appeared to be a local branch of a well-known, national company… but subtle inconsistencies started to stand out.”
Because the lender had strict turnaround timelines (24–48 hours to receive funds back), the delay triggered a fast and decisive response. Their team:
Initiated a wire recall
Locked down internal systems
Alerted leadership and their bank
Launched a digital investigation and contacted law enforcement
Thankfully, they acted in time to recover the funds.
“We were fortunate. Our people responded quickly. Our systems gave us just enough information to piece things together. And our bank acted in time.”
At Levine Capital, we understand how important speed, flexibility, and trust are in today’s real estate environment—especially for creative financing structures like the Morby Method, which blends seller financing with institutional capital.
That’s why we offer transactional funding solutions specifically designed for:
Wholesale & double close transactions
Morby Method A-to-B-to-C structures
Back-to-back closings with seller carry and DSCR takeout
We’re more than just a funding source—we’re your creative finance partner. Whether you’re doing a zero-down Morby Method deal or need gap funding to complete a complex structure, Levine Capital has you covered.
Not only do we fund the front end of your creative deals, but we also provide long-term takeout financing through DSCR loans—ideal for rental hold strategies.
Levine Capital is your one-stop shop for:
✅ Transactional Funding
✅ Gap Funding
✅ Earnest Money Loans
✅ DSCR Loans (Purchase, Refi, Portfolio)
✅ Fix & Flip and Ground-Up Construction
We help you structure your deals start to finish—with fast quotes, soft credit pulls, proof of funds, and personalized guidance.
Don’t trust appearances. Even scammers can produce polished emails, real names, and perfect documents. Always verify independently.
Build a culture of fast action. The team’s ability to escalate quickly—not just technology—was what saved the day.
Update your fraud checklist regularly. Tactics change. So should your training and protocols.
Fraud prevention is ongoing. It’s not a one-time process. Build it into your operations, hiring, and vendor relationships.
Slow down on high-dollar deals. Rushing is the enemy of good judgment.
At Levine Capital, we fund what others can’t—and we do it safely.
If you’re structuring creative deals and need transactional funding, gap funding, or DSCR financing, we’re here to help.
We believe in providing real estate investors with the best tools and resources to scale their businesses. That’s why we’ve partnered with industry-leading platforms to help you access funding, find deals, and close transactions more efficiently.
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