Across the country, settlement service providers, continue to do their best to protect consumers’ money and personal information, taking great care to educate and arm themselves against the thieves that threaten their business. However, these thieves are smart, coming up with new ways to take what’s valuable. That’s why it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest schemes attacking your clients and consumers.
“In the past settlement agents were not on their radar,” said Nancy Silberberg, president, Escrow Institute of California. “With the advent of the Internet, people have the ability to obtain more information and are able locate possible sources of personal data and/or funds that they weren’t aware of in the past.”
Silberberg will be part of the Data and Escrow Security Innovations Panel at the 2015 National Settlement Services Summit June 8-10 in Atlanta.
She’ll be joined on the panel by Anna Burns, attorney, Southeast Region, Federal Trade Commission; Nick Nicholson, president, American Escrow Association; and Michael Anaya, supervisory special agent (CY-2), Atlanta Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation. The panelists will explore the latest data and escrow security trends and threats that title and settlement services agents should be watching for, as well as updated tips for addressing these challenges.
Silberberg said there are more ways to perpetrate fraud as the modes of theft have become more creative and less obvious. There is a difference between the obvious break in of having your windows broken and items from your office stolen vs. the computer hacker who does this theft behind the scenes in many instances.
“I think that people need to be engaged and they need to understand how to protect themselves,” Silberberg said. “And how to protect the public, which has always been our fiduciary duty.
“It is important to understand what the threats are and how they are evolving,” she added. “And how they will affect your business.”
Technology and other tools to protect your company, clients and consumers also have evolved. Silberberg noted that a few years ago, not many people in the industry were encrypting their emails, for instance, but that she is seeing more and more people encrypting emails now.
“In the event of a security breach we need to know the duties and responsibilities that our states may impose on us,” she said.
To get more information on the 2015 National Settlement Services Summit in Atlanta June 8-10, including the agenda and a list of speakers, click here. You can register for NS3 online or click here to get information on how to register via mail, fax or phone.