Industry News
|
| | Real Estate Documents Full of Personal Information Found In Dumpster
Chris Saldana, Reporter
Dumpster Full of Personal Information Discovered
Sep 18, 2007 11:48 PM EDT
Build Your Own Newscast
Real Estate Documents Found in Dumpster
Dumpster Full of Sensitive Information Discovered
Check All | Clear All
"I was not aware. We are in the process of moving right now and our files are scanned into an electronic system, and shredded after that," Dean Collins said.
Metro police officers removed the files from the trash.
Hundreds of files containing personal financial information were discovered in a dumpster near early Tuesday morning.
A viewer, concerned about the possibility of identity theft, tipped off Eyewitness News to the situation after she witnessed people throwing the documents in the trash.
The files were discovered in a dumpster in the 5500 block of Redwood Street near Rainbow Road and Russell Road and appear to be real estate records.
There are numerous files of sensitive personal information on dozens, maybe even hundreds of valley homebuyers, including names, bank account information and addresses.
More and more real estate businesses are closing or down sizing and moving to new locations throughout the valley, and this is what the real estate agency where those files were found says happened.
Metro police officers removed the files from the trash, making sure the files did not get into the wrong hands. Most of the files date back to the late 1990s.
Metro Lt. Ted Snodgrass said, "We looked through some of the stuff together. There's some cancelled checks, personal data."
Dean Collins is the office manager at the Century 21 location where the files were found.
"I was not aware. We are in the process of moving right now and our files are scanned into an electronic system, and shredded after that," Collins said.
But he says there are some exceptions. "Unfortunately, our agents keep a copy for themselves sometimes. These files are over 10 years old, I spoke with the agent," he continued.
Collins says his agent didn't realize the information was that sensitive.
Lee Barrett with the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors says this case was an isolated one. "All of our members have gone through training that the board offers and ID theft and disposed of this material in a safe affective manner, mainly shredding," he explained.
Barrett says the housing market is forcing real estate businesses to close or move locations.
As for the business where the files were found, he says it was simply an oversight.
"We are seeing an adjustment in the market place. Real estate companies are having operational issues and they are doing what it takes to operate their own business," Barrett said.
By law, all companies and businesses that handle this kind of sensitive consumer credit information are required to destroy the information before it is discarded. But as we found out -- this illegal and dangerous practice happens. | |
|
SPECIAL INTERNET PRICING - Service as low as $45 a month!! GET A QUOTE NOW
|
|
|
