Real estate quishing is a growing cyber threat in 2025 that targets homebuyers, sellers, and title professionals during the closing process. Quishing—short for “QR code phishing”—is a modern twist on traditional email scams. Instead of clicking on suspicious links, victims are tricked into scanning fraudulent QR codes with their phones. These attacks are particularly dangerous in the real estate industry, where QR codes are now embedded in closing instructions, wire transfer requests, and digital communication.

Imagine spending hour after hour searching for your dream home and finally finding it. But, as you start to complete all the paperwork and get ready to close an urgent email appears in your inbox. The email appears to be from your agent or attorney or from someone representing the seller urgently requesting for the down payment and other closing costs to be wired today.