Home Fraud Defense Council (HFDC)
The Home Fraud Defense Council (HFDC) is an independent, advisory standards body focused on education, awareness, and best-practice guidance related to real estate and consumer fraud.
The Council’s mission is to reduce consumer harm by improving understanding of deed fraud, fraud in the inducement, identity-based property theft, and related real estate scams often targeting seniors, with an emphasis on prevention through education.
Purpose
Residential real estate fraud often results in catastrophic and irreversible losses for homeowners, particularly when fraud involves voluntary actions taken under deception. The Home Fraud Defense Council exists to support clearer education, stronger ethical standards, and consistent guidance across academic, professional, and public-interest settings.
The Council operates in the public interest and does not engage in enforcement or commercial activity.
What the Council Does
The Home Fraud Defense Council:
Develops and maintains educational standards related to home fraud prevention
Reviews emerging fraud patterns and trends affecting homeowners and real estate professionals
Issues advisory guidance and frameworks to support education and awareness
Advises academic institutions, professional education providers, and public-interest organizations
Oversees the integrity and consistency of Home Fraud Defense standards
All guidance issued by the Council is advisory in nature.
What the Council Does Not Do
To preserve independence and credibility, the Council:
Does not sell courses or training directly
Does not endorse commercial vendors, products, or services
Does not provide legal or regulatory advice
Does not mandate participation in any educational program
Does not engage in lobbying or enforcement activity
Does not represent or speak on behalf of any government agency
Governance & Structure
The Home Fraud Defense Council operates as an advisory body composed of professionals with experience in:
Real estate and title risk management
Academic instruction and curriculum development
Consumer protection and fraud prevention law enforcement
Real estate brokerage and compliance
Public-interest housing and elder protection
The Council is chaired by its Founder and meets periodically to review standards, guidance, and emerging issues.
Participation is voluntary, unpaid, and non-commercial.
Advisory Participation
Council members participate in an individual capacity and contribute advisory input based on their professional experience.
Participation:
Does not imply endorsement of any training program or commercial activity
Does not create regulatory or supervisory authority
Is limited in scope and time commitment
Public listing of participation is optional and subject to individual preference and ethical guidelines.
Time Commitment
The Council’s operating model is intentionally limited:
Two virtual meetings per year (60–90 minutes each)
Optional input on emerging issues as needed
No operational, administrative, or teaching responsibilities
Independence & Ethics
The Home Fraud Defense Council maintains independence from commercial, regulatory, and enforcement interests.
All conflicts of interest are disclosed. Funding, sponsorship, or institutional relationships do not influence standards development or guidance.
Relationship to Education & Training Programs
Educational programs and certifications may reference Home Fraud Defense standards under written license, but are delivered by separate organizations.
The Council functions solely as a standards-setting and advisory authority, ensuring clear separation between governance and commercial education activities.
Founding Council
The Home Fraud Defense Council is currently in its founding phase.
Founding advisory participants are invited based on:
Relevant subject-matter expertise
Commitment to consumer protection and education
Interest in contributing to ethical standards in residential real estate
Participation may be acknowledged publicly only with individual approval.
“Setting independent standards for home fraud education and prevention.”
Contact
For inquiries related to the Home Fraud Defense Council or standards development:
John Rowan
Founder & Chair, Home Fraud Defense Council
John@HomeFraudDefense.org
Disclaimer
The Home Fraud Defense Council is an independent advisory body. Participation does not imply endorsement by any government agency, regulatory authority, or educational institution. All standards and guidance are advisory and do not replace legal, professional, or regulatory judgment.
