THIS BULLETIN IS FURNISHED TO INFORM YOU OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS. AS A REMINDER, YOU ARE CHARGED WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTENT ON VIRTUAL UNDERWRITER AS IT EXISTS FROM TIME TO TIME AS IT APPLIES TO YOU, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. OUR UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS DO NOT AUTHORIZE OUR ISSUING AGENTS TO ENGAGE IN SETTLEMENTS OR CLOSINGS ON BEHALF OF STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT INTENDED TO DIRECT YOUR ESCROW OR SETTLEMENT PRACTICES OR TO CHANGE PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS. CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION SHOULD NEVER BE SHARED OR DISSEMINATED EXCEPT AS ALLOWED BY LAW. IF APPLICABLE STATE LAW OR REGULATION IMPOSES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
Special Alert: SA2024303
Search the Database
Before closing a transaction, all issuing offices must search the names of the parties to the transaction, including the seller, buyer/borrower, payoff lender and new lender, using the Special Alerts database. Go to the Special Alerts database to search for specific names, entities and properties.
Special Alert: SA2024303
Dear Associates:
Please be alert to a fraudulent scheme involving a person using the following name:
Mike Bernard
A person using this name is engaged in a fraudulent scheme involving the diversion of funds through wire fraud.
This person is falsely posing as a Stewart Title Company Escrow Officer.
He is sending fraudulent wire instructions to buyers in an attempt to trick the buyers into wiring their earnest money deposits to his fraudulent account.
This person is falsely representing himself as an Escrow Officer with Stewart Title Company, including offices in Austin, TX, New Braunfels, TX, Ocala, FL, and Sarasota, FL, and perhaps others.
This person has no association with Stewart Title Company or Stewart Title Guaranty Company.
This person is using the Stewart Title name and logo without authorization.
If you become aware of activity by this person, it is recommended that you file a report with your local police department and also with the FBI via the IC3 database https://www.ic3.gov/.
As a reminder, all issuing offices must search the names of the parties to the transaction, including the seller, buyer, borrower, payoff lender, and new lender, using the Special Alerts database, which may be accessed at https://specialalerts.stewart.com/Search or as a link from Stewart.com and/or Virtual Underwriter.
For on-line viewing of this and other bulletins, please log onto www.vuwriter.com.
References
- Bulletins Replaced:
- None
- Related Bulletins:
- None
- Underwriting Manual:
- None
- Exceptions Manual:
- None
- Forms:
- None