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Could Someone Really Steal Your Home?
Posted Jan 2007
Yes it could happen to
you! If you have any equity in your property
your a target.
Identity Fraud /
Mortgage Fraud
How can I
avoid being the next victim?
#1: Get
rid of that easy access mail box
and either have a mail slot installed or purchase a locking mail
box. Visit
www.mailboxes.com for a nice selection or your local hardware
store. I know a good installer if you need one.
#2
Ensure that access to your home telephone phone line on
the side of your home is secured
"a dollar store luggage lock should
suffice" and would at least show
signs of tampering if accessed. Thieves can tap into your own phone
line to Validate credit cards they applied for from information they
stole from your mail box and paper recycling.
#3:
The purchase of a paper shredder
is important when discarding any sensitive
information like old Visa Statements, old bills and even Credit Card
Pre-Approved solicitations. Prices of shredders start at as low as
$30.00. I recommend a cross cut
shredder.
#4:
Make sure you have Title insurance.
The more equity you have in your home equates to more that can be
stolen and the easier it would be to steal it. If you’re not sure
you have it, Find out! Call me or the Lawyer you used in the
purchase of your home. Title insurance
will only cover you for up to 200% of the initial purchase price
of your home, You may need to top up that insurance.
#5:
Equifax, TransUnion
Canada are two of the major credit report companies that keep
records of your Credit worthiness that are utilized by Lenders and
others to verify your personal financial information. There are
others Reporting Companies
you may wish to contact also but these
are the two largest. They can be found easily enough by going to
www.google.ca and searching for "Credit
Reports"
I recommend
that they must have your consent to give out your Credit Report to
anyone requesting it.
You should have this
additional safe guard added to your credit information
that will require anyone accessing your report to get your
permission. What you need to do is contact these Companies and
request a BIG RED FLAG
to be added to your file that they never give out your credit
information without e-mailing/faxing/calling you and obtaining your
permission. You can choose the format of authentication that best
suites your needs.
Remember that
if you are in the process of applying for
credit, advice the parties involved “Your Realtor/ Lender/Visa” that
you have this BIG RED FLAG
in place and there may be a delay in your credit application.
Contact information at
www.quifax.ca &
www.tuc.ca You can call
Equifax toll-free at 1-800-465-7166 or 514-493-2314 to find out what
requirements they need from you to add the
BIG RED FLAG.
#6:
Don’t carry your Birth Certificate or Social Insurance
Card in you Wallet/Purse. It's very
hard to have it drop on the ground somewhere if it's locked away in
the fire proof Filing Cabinet.
Never give it out to
anyone over the phone unless you can be 100% sure you are talking to
the person you think you are.
I hope you found this
information is useful and
if you have any questions
or
would like to
add any additional information that I
may have missed that can help others protect themselves and their
Families please feel free to give me a call.
I will be updating
this information .
www.frankjones.ca
.& www.central-toronto-real-estate.com
www.central-toronto-real-estate.com
Have a Happy Safe New
Year!
Frank
Jones,
Sales
Representative
Re/Max Hallmark
Realty Ltd, Brokerage
697 Mt. Pleasant Road
Phone: (416)
486-5588
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