Trends in Homeownership Scams and Solicitations: Spotlight on Seniors

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Includes a Live Web Event on 05/06/2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT)

This training will focus on common fraudulent conduct against seniors who are homeowners and provide suggestions for resolving these cases short of litigation. The presentation will cover why seniors are particularly susceptible to undue influence and fraud. Helen Hoeffel will speak about home improvement contracts as vehicles for financial abuse and how California’s Home Solicitation Sales Act can protect seniors from contractors’ fraudulent conduct.

Deborah Cuevas Hill will explain why seniors are targeted by scammers and both speakers will focus on prevention and what to do when your client falls victim to a homeownership related scam. Deborah will also discuss emerging scams such as home equity investment loans and long-term scams with perhaps new trends in foreclosure rescue scams and home solicitation.

Please note that the webinar will be followed by a one-hour online roundtable discussion.

What You Will Learn
• How to issue spot common homeowner scams
• How to resolve cases short of litigation
• How to identify resources for senior homeowners

Helen Hoeffel

Helen Hoeffel has been practicing law since 1994, with a background in real estate title litigation, consumer law, and appellate work. She is currently a senior staff attorney at Legal Assistance for Seniors in Oakland, California where she assists older adults with consumer issues such as illegal home solicitation contracts and debt defense. Her prior litigation experience includes quiet title and escrow matters, predatory lending, financial elder abuse, and wrongful foreclosure. She is a board member for the Alameda County Bar Association and chairs the ACBA business section.

Deborah Cuevas Hill

Deborah Cuevas Hill is a Managing Attorney of the Consumer Advocacy and Home Ownership Preservation Practice at Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE). In this role, Debbie leads a team representing low-income seniors who are victims of financial exploitation and real property fraud and/or facing foreclosure. Prior to joining LCE, Debbie was a Consumer Unit Supervising Attorney at Legal Aid DC where she focused on preserving the limited income and assets of her clients by providing representation in foreclosure and debt collection cases and advocated for laws that protect D.C. consumers from unfair and deceptive practices. Debbie previously clerked at the D.C. Court of Appeals for the Honorable Inez Smith Reid.