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REALTOR® Issues

Cyber Crime and Identity Theft
April 29, 2010


John Medeiros, FBI Special Agent
Cyber Crime Division
2868 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 232-7549
j.medeiros@ic.fbi.gov


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Cyber Crime has increased in popularity due to 72% of all Americans having access to the Internet
 
The popularity of social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn) has exponentially increased the frequency of identify theft and other computer-related crimes (Ex. if you have 100 friends, all your friends have 100 friends, and so on)

One-tenth of 1% of all attempted scams are successful

Laptops are more susceptible to breaches, especially when used in public places (Free Wi-Fi)

Tips for Email Messages
          ~ Hackers prey on an individual’s curiosity for success
          ~ Craig’s List- most abused on-line auction service
          ~ Do not open Adobe attachments from an unknown source.  In 2009, opening an infected Adobe document accounted for 80%
             of all successful breaches.
          ~ Don’t open URL’s with ‘tinyurl.com’ in the link
          ~ Trojans - Bad pieces of code implanted by hackers
          ~ Java Script- computer program enabling the use of flashy banners, scrolling messages.  Java Script can be turned off.

If you store personal and/or client information on your computer, DO NOT use this computer to:
          ~ Check personal email
          ~ Share files
          ~ Utilize social networking sites

DO NOT
          ~ Use Free Wi-Fi.  If you must use your computer in a public place, consider purchasing an AirCard which transmits data over
             the cell phone network.  Not 100% effective, but allows security through obscurity.
          ~ Use hotel Business Center computers for anything other searching restaurants, checking-in for your flight, etc
          ~ Don’t receive your bank statements via U.S. Mail
          ~ Don’t assume the Caller ID is accurate
          ~ Don’t use your mother’s maiden name as the answer to an ID question
          ~ Lie about your answers to ID questions- Ex. What high school did you attend?
          ~ The key is remembering your lies and not telling the same lie twice

Recommendations
          ~ Purchase reputable anti-virus software with a bi-directional firewall.  Check Consumer Reports or visit www.pcmad.com
             to compare available products
          ~ Purchase a Netbook exclusively for social networking purposes ($250)
          ~ If you frequently purchase/sell items on EBay or Craig’s List, form an account with an established escrow service.  PayPal is
             not an escrow service.

Please contact David Pair, Director or Governmental Affairs, via Email or phone (771-6845) for additional information or to recommend a discussion topic for future REALTOR® Issues meetings.

Click on the links below to view minutes from previously held REALTOR® Issues sessions.

Trends in Development- 2/9/10
Dennis Anglin- Williamson County Property Assessor- 1/27/10
Sewer Assessment Districts - 9/23/09
Music City Center - 8/4/09
Franklin Forum - 6/18/2009
Trends in Development - 1/27/09

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WILLIAMSON COUNTY
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Equal Housing

840 Crescent Centre Drive, Suite 120
Franklin, TN 37067 | Phone: (615) 771-6845