A wake up call.........

With identity theft as it is, have you wondered about how easy it is to google an address or go to zillow and find out about your neighbor? Do you know you can spend a few bucks and find out just about everything you want to know about someone.....Have you wondered about all of those glorious tours we put up on the websites that gives a complete outline of a home and its contents?........With the high tech crime happenings and in our area at open houses the increase of theft of laptops, personal data and prescription meds etc one needs to ponder for a moment and step back and see what we have done.

 As one who was a victim of credit card fraud back in january by purchasing an item at Marshall's whose computer system was compromised somehow along with a few other merchants and my info was stolen and used has made me ponder about many things. I was lucky. It was caught up front when someone transferred $600 from Western Union to some place in Missouri and the fraud dept caught it.

Identity theft is extremely serious and has ruined countless lives. The internet has paved the way to easily access our personal information.

Frankly, I do not believe it is anyone's business but the actually lender or title company looking for pay off numbers to have even mortgage information shown to the public.

Keeping our clients information confidential and secure is paramount. The MLS has even been compromised in certain areas to which stricter safeguards are now in place to deter such.

I beginning to believe that we may need to totally re evaluate how we market,what is shown publicly and to begin safeguards by having at least 2 people at occupied homes when doing open house. Not only to protect the contents of the home, but for the protection of the realtors. We have seen an increase of assaults and thefts towards agents as well in our area.

Something to think about. Talk about. Strategize.

Has our online strategy , techiness, and knowledge become a monster in disguise?