How do we verify changed closing-payment instructions without panicking about the deadline?

At 11:20, an email in our US home-buying thread said the closing funds now needed to go to a different account. It used the settlement firm's logo and referred to our address. The message said the transfer had to arrive before two.

We are preparing a $43,000 closing payment. I haven't sent it. My partner thinks the familiar thread makes the change believable, and he's worried a delay will cost us the home. I have the settlement office's number from earlier, independently confirmed paperwork, but the person who usually handles our file is in a meeting. The new email supplies another number labelled urgent transfers.

The [CFPB's closing checklist](https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_buying-a-house_mortgage-closing_checklist.pdf) warns about last-minute payment changes and recommends confirming through trusted contacts using previously saved numbers. I'll use the known office contact rather than the number in the new message.

What should we ask the verified closing team to confirm, including what happens to today's timing if verification takes longer? I want a clear payment process, not a debate with my partner about which of us trusts a logo enough.