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Only On 2: Boyle Heights Couple Duped Out Of $11,000 In Escrow Scam

BOYLE HEIGHTS (CBSLA.com) — A couple who recently went through escrow on a property in Boyle Heights was involved in a scam while trying to close out their real estate deal.

CBS2's Jeff Nguyen spoke with Nikita and Brennan Maxwell Friday who said their earnest money transfer went into a fraudulent account.

The couple also expressed their fear that they would lose more than $11,000 and miss out on the purchase of their home.

"My wife and I, and the banker, all checked every line account number and names on what we later learned was a fictitious document," explained Brennan Maxwell.

Their real estate agent, Marcy Soufrine, said the scam occurred when she got two emails for the wire transfer instruction.

One was from Jewel Escrow in Diamond Bar, and the second was made to look like it was sent from the same escrow office.

"The first part of the address bar was from the same sender," explained Soufrine. "The secondary fraudulent one ended in mail.com."

The Maxwell's money was sent to a fake account at PNC Bank in Philadelphia.

They were able to provide copies of the real and phony wire instructions, which both had Jewel Escrow's letter head on it.

Nguyen reached out to the manager of Jewel Escrow, who refused to comment on the case and wouldn't clarify if the company's email had been compromised.

The Maxwell's shared that their money had been returned from the bank by this afternoon.

PNC Bank officials reported they are glad the couple's matter was resolved.

They were not able to share with Nguyen as to why the money was returned due to privacy laws.

The Maxwell's hope to move into their new home by Christmas.

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