EquityProtect Expands Elder Fraud Protection as Digital Scams Target Vulnerable Homeowners

Written by:

Steve Marcinuk

Date:

14 Jan 2026

Share

Share via Facebook

Share via Linkedin

Share via X

Copy to clipboard

The convergence of property fraud and elder abuse has created a new area of concern for home title protection services, as scammers increasingly focus on seniors who have significant home equity. These criminals are using more sophisticated digital tactics to exploit older homeowners, prompting companies like EquityProtect to broaden their fraud-prevention efforts.

EquityProtect, a property fraud prevention company, recently intervened in a case that could have resulted in a significant financial loss for an elderly homeowner ensnared by a romance scam. This case illustrates how deed fraud prevention tools are being adapted to address wider financial exploitation of vulnerable groups.

“Her father had fallen victim to this, and he had previously sold properties and given all the proceeds to this person in the hopes of getting those funds released to him, and had been liquidating things,” explains Jon Dovidio, Vice President of Business Development at EquityProtect. “That’s how she achieved the power of attorney and guardianship.”

The homeowner’s daughter used EquityProtect’s system to set up alerts on her father’s property. When a reverse mortgage company tried to process a loan against the home, the system flagged the transaction and routed it through EquityProtect for review. The daughter immediately recognized it as another attempt by her father to send money to the scammer.

“She said, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe he’s trying to do this again,'” Dovidio recalls. “Their family had been dealing with this for about four years at this point.”

Older Homeowners Face Increased Fraud Risk

This incident is part of a larger trend affecting senior homeowners. Older adults are increasingly targeted for property-related fraud for two main reasons: many own homes that are fully paid off, and many are less familiar with digital security practices.

“If you look at the boomer generation and the silent generation, they’re much more fiscally responsible than a lot of the younger generations,” Dovidio notes. “Homes are paid off and have been owned for so long.”

This concentration of wealth makes seniors attractive to scammers. At the same time, limited digital literacy creates additional vulnerabilities. “I have spoken in the last few years to more people who only own a rotary phone than I thought existed,” Dovidio says. “They don’t have computers, printers, or cell phones – just a landline. So when you talk about being the target of fraud, how can they ever prevent it?”

Adapting Fraud Prevention for Non-Digital Clients

In response to these vulnerabilities, EquityProtect has changed its traditionally digital platform to serve clients who lack access to email or smartphones. The company now provides phone-based alerts for those unable to receive digital notifications.

“We did a pivot on our system,” Dovidio explains. “Now, if somebody doesn’t have email or text capability, the alert comes across our desk as ‘call client.’ So they get phone calls from us now.”

This adjustment includes quarterly check-ins and renewal notices by phone, ensuring that non-digital clients receive the same level of service as those who use email or text.

Assessing the Scale of Property Fraud Risk

EquityProtect’s internal data shows that 55% of parcels across the United States are at risk for deed fraud, accounting for more than 85 million properties. The company has developed a risk assessment tool that analyzes over 1,100 data points to help homeowners understand their level of exposure.

Many homeowners do not fully understand how property records are managed. “One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that you get a deed, you get a copy of a deed that you have in your hand, and there are a lot of people who don’t necessarily understand the concept that it’s at the county recorder,” Dovidio explains.

The county recording system processes about 300,000 documents daily nationwide. By law, recorders must accept properly formatted documents, but their review is limited to checking that the required information is present. “They look over papers. They need to make sure the papers include what they’re supposed to. They don’t vet documents,” Dovidio clarifies.

Digital Filing Creates New Weaknesses

The move toward electronic filing has introduced new risks. In Tarrant County, Texas, for example, lawmakers recently passed a bill requiring ID verification for in-person filings. However, 87% of filings in the state are now electronic, which undermines the impact of such measures. 

“We’re not magically going to have fewer e-filings,” Dovidio observes. “I don’t know what showing a driver’s license does at the counter for the majority of the transactions occurring.”

This shift means that property owners can no longer rely solely on monitoring their tax records or periodic checks. Fraudulent documents can now be filed and recorded within hours, leaving little time for intervention.

“If you were the county recorder and I called you every day at nine o’clock to find out if everything was good on my property, if one day at 9:01 an e-file came in, it’s too late,” Dovidio explains. “Damage is done. I got to get an attorneyand file a quiet title action.”

Building Partnerships with County Governments

To address these risks more effectively, EquityProtect is expanding its partnerships with county governments. The company offers free monitoring services to counties for their residents and provides discounted rates for those who need more extensive protection.

“Our goal is to protect people,” Dovidio emphasizes.  “We are partnering with counties to provide complimentary monitoring services to their constituents. This service is akin to other pay services, although it contains a proactive feature that monitors all front-facing sales and rental sites for property owners.”

This approach is a departure from standard industry practice. EquityProtect’s preventative service model is intentionally structured as a departure from prevailing industry practices. To support affordability and continuity of protection, EquityProtect reduces pricing after the initial year of service, ensuring homeowners can maintain long-term safeguards against deed and title fraud.

Preparing for Further Digitalization

As government services and financial systems continue to digitize, the risks facing seniors and other vulnerable homeowners are expected to grow. The recent case handled by EquityProtect demonstrates that property protection services must evolve to address complex fraud schemes that go beyond basic deed theft.

For real estate professionals and families with aging relatives who own valuable property, this case highlights the importance of comprehensive protection strategies. These must accommodate both digital and analog communication preferences and address the increasingly complex tactics scammers use.

EquityProtect’s combination of preventive technology and personalized service for non-digital users offers a model for property protection in a changing market. By adapting its services to the needs of seniors and other vulnerable groups, the company is helping to close the gaps that scammers exploit.

In an environment where fraudulent documents can be filed in minutes and traditional monitoring is no longer sufficient, proactive and accessible protection is essential. As digital processes become the norm in property transactions, companies and local governments will need to work together to ensure that all homeowners – especially those least equipped to navigate digital threats – have the tools and support they need to safeguard their most valuable assets.