WilCo detectives recover $471,000 for scammed homebuyers

Jim and Sheryl Jarrett almost lost everything when they became victims of a homebuying scam.

The Round Rock couple worked for decades to pay off their mortgage. This year, they decided to sell their home and use the money to build a brand new one -- paid for in cash.

"We had this pile of money we were going to build this home with," says Jim.

Days before closing on the new house, Jim says he received an email from what he thought was his title company. The email instructed him where to transfer all $471,000 in order to purchase the home.

However, when he visited his title company on closing day -- he realized he had been corresponding with a scammer. "I was wiring to the impostor not knowing that was what I was doing," says Jim.

Jim says the scammer intercepted emails from the title company and obtained his closing statement and information. The scammer then posed as a title company employee using an email address with unnoticeable differences, like substituting "I" for "1" or "0" for "O."

He says he didn't notice the differences wasn't until he clicked on the email sender's name to reveal the address.

According to Detective David Hancock with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, these homebuyer scams have been going on for two years. "What happens is they'll make an email and it'll look very similar to the email of the appropriate type company," says Detective Hancock.

Hancock says the impostors then tell homebuyers where to wire the money -- but it goes straight to the scammer's pocket.

He advises homeowners to correspond solely with a realtor or verify you're speaking with the title company. "Make specific contact with them and get a cell phone number for them and get all their contact info so if you receive something like that you'll be able to reach out to them and confirm," says Hancock.

For the Jarretts, the realization that they were scammed out of all their money was nothing short of devastating. Sheryl says she immediately called her family and friends to tell them what happened -- and without hesitation they came together to send the couple the money to close on the home.

Jim says it's hard not to get emotional thinking of the kindness everyone showed during their time of need.

After filing a report with the FBI, the Jarretts contacted the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. Within days, Detective Hancock and Detective Pena were able to secure the money at a bank in Florida.

Wednesday, all $471,000 was deposited back in the Jarrett's account. The WCSO says it's the largest amount of money they've ever recovered for scam victims.

The Jarrett's credit the detectives' hard work and quick response to the return of their money.

Detectives say the investigation into the scammer is ongoing -- they have not yet made any arrests.

The Williamson County Sheriff's Office advises people to contact the police immediately if you suspect you're the victim of a scam.