What type of fraud involves misrepresenting the value or ownership of property?

Equity fraud involves misrepresenting the value or ownership of property, often with the intention of deceiving lenders or other parties involved in a real estate transaction. In this type of fraud, individuals may inflate property values or falsely declare ownership to secure a loan or to gain a financial benefit they are not entitled to. This manipulation can lead to significant financial losses for lenders, investors, and other stakeholders in the real estate market.

By contrast, title fraud focuses specifically on the unlawful transfer of property title, such as forging signatures or falsifying documents to claim ownership of a property. Red flag fraud refers to suspicious behaviors or actions that may indicate fraud but don't necessarily involve direct misrepresentation of property values. Credit fraud typically involves the use of someone else's credit information to obtain loans or credit, which is a different issue unrelated to property ownership or value.