Child Identity Theft

More than 140,000 children are victims of identity fraud annually in the United States. This can happen in many ways but the two most frequent ways are Criminal Identity Theft and Identity Assumption. Criminal identity theft occurs when a person “borrows” the information of the minor to get some form of identification (like a driver’s license) or uses the child’s identity when caught in a criminal act.

Identity assumption is when an identity thief uses and identity for financial, criminal, and governmental purposes. These criminals may be trying to restart their financial lives or avoid arrest.

What are some of the warning signs that my child’s identity has been stolen?
*You try to open a saving’s account or college fund for your child and find out there is already an account open with that Social Security Number.
*You receive numerous credit cards, checks, pre-approved credit card offers, bills, bank statements in the mail with your child’s name on them.
*You start receiving phone calls or letters from collection agencies about accounts you didn’t open for your child.
*When your teenager is denied a driver’s license because another person has a license with their Social Security Number.
*When law enforcement shows up at your house with a warrant for an arrest of your child.

What can I do to protect my children?
*If you have any accounts open in your child’s name (college funds, savings accounts, etc.,) monitor them for suspicious activity.
*Watch for suspicious mail, emails, or phone calls regarding accounts in your child’s name.

What you should do TODAY. Order a Child Identity Theft Inquiry Form with TransUnion.

Order a copy of your credit information from www.annualcreditreport.com.

Holiday Season Reminders!

As our year starts to wind down, we hope you all had a safe, enjoyable Thanksgiving.

As many of you are aware, December is the most violent month of the year in every city in the United States. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season unfortunately, safety often takes a back seat.

I want to give you 3 quick safety tips I would love for you to share with your family, friends and clients. I know you have been vigilant this year, but my request is for you to step up your personal awareness and remind all others that this time of the year crime normally triples.

Tip #1: For Your Home
Criminals love an easy target. So, let’s close and lock our connecting doors in our garages and close the garage door when not in use, let’s install those motion detector lights and although we want everyone to see our beautiful tree, let’s be safe about it. Keep your tree viewable but remove presents from view and put your china out of view.

Tip #2: Safety in our Vehicles
As if life wasn’t busy enough now we are adding in more trips to the grocery store, shopping malls, banking centers, etc., but let’s take time to be extra careful about our surroundings. Be mindful of where you park, how much stuff we are carrying to our cars and remember the 5 Second Rule of glancing behind you when you are walking to your car and remember to stop and take a deep breath in to relax yourself and improve your alertness to your surroundings.

Tip #3: Personal Safety
Unfortunately personal assaults will increase during the month of December. Remember my golden rule, “You are your best weapon, your mind, voice and body. Listen and trust your inner voice. It is the best weapon you have.” So, during this holiday season remember to listen to yourself, trust yourself and pay attention to you!

Folks, it has been a pleasure working with you this year and I am looking forward to next year. So, just let me close by saying I wish all of you a safe and joyous holiday season.

Grace, Peace and Prosperity,
Andrew

Halloween Safety Tips from SAFE

Can you believe that 2011 is almost over? As we begin to prepare for the holiday season, Halloween is just around the corner. Let’s be as safe as possible this year. Below are my top three safety tips for Halloween.

Tip #1: Trick or Treating at Your Home
Trick or treating is a tradition that kids look forward to all year. But instead of opening your door to total strangers in costumes and masks, let’s adjust this tradition for safety. Get out your lawn chairs and sit on your driveway or porch and hand out candy there. This way you can see what’s going on around you and who is approaching. Be sure to keep your garage door closed the other doors to your house locked.

Safety Tip #2: Taking Your Kids Trick or Treating
While you are walking your kids from house to house, please be sure your kids can be seen. Only trick or treat on well lit streets and near houses with lights on. Also be sure your kids have reflective items on their costumes so any passing car can see them too. Predators can be lurking anywhere so never let your kids out of your site! Lastly before you go out please visit Family Watch Dog. Check out the neighborhoods you will be visiting and be sure to know which houses you should avoid.

Safety Tip #3: Candy Check
Never eat or let your kids eat any candy until you have inspected it. Unwrapped or homemade items should not be eaten and avoid anything that looks old, worn or looks like it’s been tampered with. We all know this, but it’s worth saying, watch how much candy your kids eat. Too much sugar can cause stomach aches!

Have a safe, fun and happy Halloween!!!

Realtor Safety Report 2011 – violence against REALTORS on the rise

State of the industry
September marks the National Association of REALTORS, REALTOR Safety month and the industry is currently introspective about the topic, sharing tips and tricks of the trade. While we find it important to prevent crime against real estate professionals, we believe preparation is the best way to fine tune your gift of instinct. For the first annual Realtor Safety Report, we have teamed up with Moby and SAFE to investigate the rise in violence against real estate professionals.

Our industry has lost some amazing people this year, and countless others have been assaulted, and in conversation with leadership at Moby, we all felt that the actual crimes are not being analyzed in depth, rather associations are limited to sharing tips on heightening Realtor awareness.

We set out to see if we could learn more about crimes committed against real estate professionals in the past year and teamed up with Realtor safety expert Andrew Wooten, President of SAFE who said, “The past 12 months have been the most violent I have seen in twenty-six years working in the real estate industry. We’ve seen an increase in attacks, murders and suicides.”

Given Wooten’s note that violence is on the rise, and our mutual feeling with Moby that the why is not being investigated, we dug deeper to learn whether or not the crimes against Realtors had a common theme in an effort to discover something to look out for, something for Realtors to be aware of, for hope of a safer industry.

REALTOR Safety Report 2011

September is Safety Month-Are You Prepared to Protect Yourself, Your Clients and Your Family?

The past 12 months have been the most violent I have seen in twenty-six years working in the real estate industry. We’ve seen an increase in attacks, murders and suicides. Let’s work together on decreasing these numbers.

Keeping you and your family safe is not only my job, but my passion. Seeing all the crime unfold in our industry this past year has made my heart heavy. As we approach September, safety month, I will be seeing many of you at classes and conventions all over the country. I look forward to sharing tips and techniques with you all that will keep you, your families and your clients safe. But in the meantime, I have prepared a short safety video that I would like to share with you. Please find the link below. In addition to, below are some key safety points I want you all to not just read, but implement as soon as possible. Take care and just be safe!
Andrew

Safety Month Safety Tips
The number one thing my survivors say is “Andrew, I knew something was not right. My gut, that little voice inside me said something is not right. But I did not pay attention to it and look what happened.”

So, my Number One Safety tip is:
Listen to yourself. Trust yourself. Pay attention to what your body is saying.

Safety Tip Number Two:
Use these forms (Click on each form to view and download):
Agent Identification Form
Agent Itinerary
Prospect Identification Form

Safety Tip Number Three:
Always let someone know where you are and where you are going. And remember what our mothers said, “There is safety in numbers.”

Click here for a short video with more safety tips.

For additional information please visit www.realtor.org/safety and www.justbesafe.com.

Identity Theft: Protecting You and Your Clients

Florida REALTORS® 2011 Convention
Saturday, August 27, 2011
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
3 CE Credits

Even if you’ve heard Andrew speak before, this is a new, updated talk that you do NOT want to miss. This class will provide current, relevant information for both Brokers and Agents.

Since this time last year, we have seen the most violent year in real estate. Not only have we seen more agents attacked, robbed and assaulted in the past 12 months than in many years past combined but we’ve also seen a drastic rise in the number of agents and brokers arrested for identity theft and data breaches.

Brokers, whether you have 1 or 200 agents, this information is for you! You will learn:
* Why over 850 brokers and agents were arrested and indicted.
* How not to get sued and stay out of jail.
* Have you created your Data Emergency Plan? It’s the law!

Agents, whether you work in an office or from home, this information is for you too! You will learn:
* How criminals pick an open house to victimize.
* The steps to minimizing being victimized at open houses, listing appointments and vacant properties.
* How to use today’s technology safely.

Times have changed. Our economy has dictated that we must change the way we do business. This program will equip you with the latest tools and techniques to protect your good name and keep you and your clients safe.

Becoming a Road Warrior: Avoiding Dangerous Situations in Your Car

Last month we talked about the basics for your home; locks, lighting, and landscaping. Remember to keep all your locks (on doors and windows) locked and install motion detector lights all around your home. And don’t forget the 3 Foot/10 Foot Rule for your bushes and trees. This month we want to discuss how to get you safely from your home to your destination.

Becoming a Road Warrior: Avoiding Dangerous Situations in Your Car

Leaving Your Home

First, let’s discuss how you leave your house. If you’re like most people I know, you leave your house (especially in the morning) hurried and carrying a lot of stuff. You’re most likely on the phone too. If you’re parked in your garage, you open the garage door as you walk out, put your stuff in the passenger seat or the back seat, get in and go. But did you take a moment to look around for anything suspicious? Do you realize how easy it would have been for someone to walk up and grab you as you stood outside your car chatting on the phone or messing with some files in your briefcase?

So how do we make leaving a garage safer? First, don’t open the garage door until you are ready to pull out. Put your stuff in your car, get in, turn on the car, adjust your mirrors and buckle up before you open the garage door. Also, if at all possible, when you park in a garage, pull in backwards. This way once you open the door you can see straight out into your neighborhood.

If you don’t have a garage, take a moment and look outside before you leave your house. If you see anything suspicious, don’t go outside, contact local law enforcement. If the neighborhood looks secure, walk quickly to your car, get in and get going. Do not spend a lot of time doing other things while you sit in the car in the driveway.

Driving

The best things you can do to prevent dangerous situations on the road is by staying aware and keeping your car well maintained. We all make phone calls while in our car, even though our main focus should always be on the road. But take a few moments when you stop at a red light or stop sign to look around and be aware of what’s going on around you. If something seems suspicious or makes you feel uncomfortable, pay attention to it. Wait to make that phone call or send that text message. And remember that nothing, not even your car, is worth your life.

Accidents and breakdowns are going to happen. So let’s be prepared for them. Always keep a Roadside Emergency Kit in your car. In addition, keep some comfortable shoes and clothes, a sweater and some water. You may have to walk a long distance to get help. You should also have a sign that reads, “Call Police,” in case you find yourself in an area with no cell phone service. Stay inside your car with the windows up and the doors locked while you wait for help.

Back to the Basics

The temperature is heating up which means summer is on the way. It’s this time of the year that many of us take vacations to revitalize our minds and bodies. So we felt this was a perfect time for us to go back and remind everyone of the basics.

Everywhere I go people always ask me, “Andrew, why safety?” So I’d like to take this time to have a simple chat with you about why we need safety and awareness trainings.

First, I’d like to shout out a big thank you to all the associations that are proactive with safety. I’d also like to say thank you to the National Association of REALTORS® who lead by example, giving REALTORS® all over the world tons of resources to keep them safe. Click here to visit NAR’s safety resource page.

With that in mind we would like to remind you of the Three L’s.

The Three L’s for Home Safety: Locks, Lighting and Landscape

Locks
Be sure you have proper locks on all your doors and windows. And keep them locked! Use anti-bumping deadbolt locks on all your doors. Keep the door between your house and the garage locked and lock your garage door at night. Don’t forget to check all your locks before you go to bed each night.

Lighting
Criminals love landscape lighting and dusk-to-dawn lighting. We recommend you install motion detector lighting on all your outside lights. This includes on all four sides of your home. Also install timers for the interior lights of your house. This makes your home look occupied even when you are not there.

Landscaping
In addition to keeping your lawn cut and clear of clutter, remember the 3 Foot/10 Foot Rule. All of your bushes should be cut down to no higher than three feet and thinned out. This prevents criminals from hiding behind your bushes to surprise you. All your trees should be cut to hang no lower than ten feet from the ground.

Next month we will continue our conversation on safety basics. Should you have any questions about the information in this newsletter, please contact us.

Happy Memorial Day!
We want to wish everyone a very happy, safe holiday weekend. Please don’t forget what the holiday is all about. A huge thank you to all our service men and women who have served our country or are serving now. We appreciate your service and dedication to keeping us all safe!

Top Ten Do’s and Don’ts for Open Houses

Given the recent tragedy in Iowa, we felt it was important to remind everyone about Open House safety. The ten simple tips below are crucial to staying safe at any Open House.

Five Don’ts
1. Don’t be unaware.
2. Don’t turn your back on a client.
3. Don’t go into small rooms (bathrooms, closets, laundry rooms, etc.)
4. Don’t lead your clients, instead follow and direct them.
5. Don’t park where you can get blocked in.

Five Do’s
6. Do prepare, prepare, prepare.
7. Do work in teams.
8. Do use your technology safely.
9. Do know your escape routes.
10. Do trust your gut.

My survivors always talk about that gut feeling they’ve had before bad things happen. The criminals I have interviewed always talk about how easy agents make it, purses, laptops and a major lack of awareness.

It doesn’t matter if you are male or female. The one thing you must do is listen and trust yourself. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it!

Smart Phone: Why Criminals Love Them

Cell phones, who doesn’t have one? I might leave my wallet at home, but if I leave my cell phone at home, I am turning around to go it. Why do criminals love our use of cell phones? Because we have gotten to the point of letting our guard down. How many of us have purchased an airline ticket or ordered and paid for an item over our cell phone? What about banking? A lot of banks now have mobile applications. Your bank’s website may be secure but how secure is your Internet connection? There are approximately 6.8 billion people in the world and we’re close to 5 billion cell phone subscriptions. So the criminals have figured it out. For less than $40.00 you can buy a scanner and listen to almost anyone’s conversation. So, don’t let a smart phone be the reason you find yourself in a possibly dangerous situation or become a victim of identity theft.

Phone Calls
•Never give out your personal information over your cell phone.
•Do not read out your credit card number over a cell phone.
•Have emergency numbers pre-programmed into your phone.
•Use a hands-free device when using your phone in your car.
•When driving, do not engage in stressful or emotional calls.
•Do not talk on the phone in heavy traffic or bad weather.

Built in Features
•GPS: All smart phones have a built in GPS. If you do not turn it off when you take a photo with your phone, you will be uploading not only your photo but your location as well. Check your owner’s manual to turn off GPS when you do not need it.
•Do not store passwords on your phone for any websites, especially your bank accounts.
•Make your passwords something hard to figure out. Don’t use your name, your kid’s names or your birthday. “Andrew” is not a good password, but “An56?Wo” is.
•Lock your phone or set your phone to automatically lock after a certain period of time. Set it so that you have to enter a password to unlock it.
•Phones can get viruses, just like computers. So do not open e-mails or download files from sources you don’t know.
•When using Wi-Fi on your phone, remember that the information you are sending can be viewed by others.

Text Messages
•NEVER text while driving.
•Like with phone calls, never send your personal information over a text message.

These are just a few tips to help you protect yourself and your personal information while using smart phones. For more information, you can request Andrew’s new program, “Cyber Security and Social Media Safety” which has been approved for CE credits. Contact us today for details.