CHICAGO (WLS) -- Imagine saving for years for a new home and then having your down payment disappear in the blink of an eye. Real estate wire fraud is now among the fastest growing scams in the U.S.

When you transfer money for a down payment on a home or to make a large purchase, you may be required to do a wire transfer. Scammers may be able to get a hold of your information to steal your money.

Before the rise of payment apps and digital wallets, wire transfers were a go-to payment method for customers who needed to send money without handing over cash, and they’re still a valid option today ...

Tim Myers was about to close on a home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, when the email he’d been expecting popped into his inbox. His mortgage loan officer sent wire instructions for his down payment, along ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Q: I am buying a home, and my agent told me that I would need to send the money for the closing by wire transfer to the title ...