EquityProtect Safeguards Out-Of-State Property Owners From Real Estate Fraud Attempt

EquityProtect, a real estate fraud prevention and data security company, has stepped in to prevent an active attempt to unlawfully sell property owned by a couple in Steuben County, Indiana.

The property owners have three vacant lots in Hamilton. Although they now reside in Ohio, fraudsters targeted the properties using accurate ownership and parcel information — a common tactic with such scams.

Over four days, two unrelated real estate agents were contacted by a man claiming to be the property owners and seeking to sell the lots. One agent, who had known the couple years earlier, suspected fraud and confirmed the impersonation with the couple and local authorities. The property owners were later advised by the Steuben County Recorder’s Office that traditional monitoring services provide after-the-fact alerts and do not prevent fraudulent transactions. The Recorder recommended contacting EquityProtect to ensure their property was protected.

“You hear about these kinds of scams happening to other people, but you never think it’s going to happen to you,” said the property owner. “Once we realized someone was actively trying to sell our property, it was frightening. EquityProtect moved quickly and gave us peace of mind almost immediately.”

EquityProtect immediately fast-tracked protection for all three parcels. Within less than two and a half hours, and after coordinating with the Recorder’s Office, the properties were placed under EquityProtect’s preventative fraud protection system and SmartPolicy coverage. The company also notified local title companies and real estate brokers that the properties were not for sale and that an active fraud attempt was underway.

“This case underscores the growing sophistication of real estate fraud — and why prevention, not notification, is critical,” said Jon Dovidio, Vice President of Business Development at EquityProtect.

Vacant land and out-of-state property owners remain prime targets for real estate fraud nationwide. EquityProtect works with property owners, recorders, and real estate professionals to stop fraudulent transfers before damage occurs.