COVID-19 and Wire Fraud

COVID-19 MEMO

Champion and our employees are following the CDC’s recommendations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and we are asking our clients, agents, vendors, and guests to do the same.

During this time, we ask for your understanding that our offices are open by appointment only in order to protect everyone involved in the closing process.

Currently, we are implementing the following policies:

Prior to Closing:

• • If you are showing cold or flu like symptoms, have traveled within the last 2 weeks, or have been exposed to someone showing cold or flu like symptoms, please notify us by phone prior to closing.
  • IDs: Buyers and Sellers – please email your ID in advance of closing to the processor on your file.
  • Funds for Closing: All funds for closing must be wired in advance of closing. Please call our office for wiring instructions. Champion Title will never email you wiring instructions.
  • Reviewing the Closing Package: Whenever possible, closing packages will be sent to clients prior to closing for review. We ask that clients review the documents prior to closing so that signing is more efficient on the closing day. A settlement agent will be available to answer questions at your scheuled settlement.

Settlements:

• • Only Buyers or Sellers are asked to attend closing: Closing packages will be placed in a conference room where we ask only those signing (only the Buyer(s) or Seller(s)) be present.
    • • • • Realtors, lenders, and any other non-signatories, please protect yourself and others by not attending settlement in person.
          • Settlement agents will be available in a virtual capacity (phone, facetime, etc.) to answer questions at your scheduled settlement.
  • Please be Prompt for your Settlement Appointment: In our attempt to minimize people congregating in one space, please be prompt for your settlement appointment.
  • Pens: Buyers/Sellers will be provided a new blue pen to use for signing. Please take the pen with you or discard it after signing. Clients may use their own pen, but blue ink is required.
  • Handling Documents: When available, employees will wear gloves when handling documents.

Settlement Locations:

• • Our employees will only conduct closings in our Champion Title offices where we can control sanitation.
  • If you prefer to close at another location, please contact us regarding mobile notary services.

Courthouse Closures:

• • Currently, transactions are moving forward as usual in most local jurisdictions.  However, this situation has been evolving daily, and often hourly.
  • We are keeping in close contact with recorders offices and our underwriters to monitor the situation as it develops.

Thank you for your patience and support.

The Champion Title & Settlements, Inc. Team

IMPORTANT WIRE FRAUD ALERT FOR HOMEBUYERS

Realtors®, Real Estate Brokers, Lenders, Buyers and Sellers are targets for wire fraud and many have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars because they simply relied on the wire instructions received via email.

Champion Title & Settlements, Inc. (“Champion”)  is asking our clients to CALL BEFORE YOU WIRE and never rely upon email communication. Always follow these two simple steps:

1. Obtain the phone number of your Lender, Real Estate Broker, Realtor® and your Champion Processor as soon as a transaction is started.

2. Call the phone number you wrote down from step #1 above to speak directly with your Champion Processor to confirm wire instructions PRIOR to wiring. If you receive alternative wiring instructions from Champion, be suspicious as we rarely change our wiring instructions.

3. ALWAYS CALL BEFORE YOUR WIRE