EquityProtect: Growing Number of States Have Deed Theft Laws, But Most Protections Work Only After Fraud Occurs

(Illustration courtesy of Flyd via Unsplash)

Twelve states now have dedicated deed theft laws–up from seven just six months ago–but most homeowner protections work only after fraud occurs, according to a new report from EquityProtect, Reno, Nev.

New laws in Alabama and Maryland took effect yesterday, and Arizona’s took effect Sept. 12.

EquityProtect CEO Ryan Marshall called twelve states acting in six months real progress. “Homeowners should understand what each protection actually does,” he added. “A criminal statute punishes, an alert notifies and insurance reimburses. Each of those matters, and each arrives after someone has already gone after your property. The strongest protection requires the owner’s verified approval before anyone can sell or borrow against the home.”

EquityProtect’s Property Protection Scorecard found that the protections homeowners are most often told to rely on share a common limitation: criminal statutes, county recording alerts and title insurance typically each respond after a fraudster has already committed the financial crime. It noted that 29 states still have no deed-theft-specific law, and bills that once appeared headed for passage in Pennsylvania and South Carolina have stalled this year.

This legislative activity comes as property fraud grows more frequent and more sophisticated. According to the report:

• The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 12,368 real estate fraud complaints last year, with $275.1 million in reported losses, up from $173.6 million in 2024.
• A September 2026 study by the American Land Title Association found that 59% of title firms experienced at least one seller impersonation fraud attempt in 2025, up from 28% in ALTA’s 2024 study. In April 2026 alone, 45% of firms reported an attempt, compared with 19% in the same period two years earlier.
• Among firms with paid claims that reported amounts, half said their average claim exceeded $100,000, according to ALTA.
• Targets are widening. ALTA respondents identified properties owned free and clear (68%) and primary residences (25%) among common targets, and nearly six in 10 said manipulated voice or image technology is becoming a common feature of these schemes.
• Seniors account for 44% of reported dollar losses from real estate fraud despite representing 19% of victims, and victims often spend $50,000 to $150,000 in legal fees to restore ownership.

To show where that exposure is concentrated, the Property Protection Scorecard now includes an interactive map breaking down high-risk properties county by county. Homeowners and local reporters can look up their own county at equityprotect.com/scorecard.