Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae Debacle

Articles presented recently give rise to a deceptive method (although not illegal) being perpetrated by the two leading Mortgage Companies Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae.

One particular article written by an author in Arizona includes this," Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s policy is ultra cheap for their own bottom line, but outrageously expensive for the American public who now become victims of crime and must absorb the costs associated with increased crime rates. Insurance claims have soared, forcing inflated premiums for average policy holders. Police departments must respond to more calls-- a critical challenge considering budgets have been severely cut due to the economic downturn. And all this because two mortgage giants chose simplicity for themselves over safety for the consumers they serve."

Apparently Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have been paying the locksmiths and handymen across the country to rekey foreclosed properties, but to the same keys exactly. The initiative is in effort to reduce the cost to the mortgage houses for granting access by their teams of tradespeople.

It is well known throughout the professional locksmith world that keying alike properties of separate addresses, whilst generally unknown to the end user, substantially reduces the security of a property, to the point of allowing access to people of ill intent.

Properties owned by the two leading mortgage houses have seen unprecedented levels of criminal damage and theft, often after foreclosure, with most blame being inferred upon the previous homeowner or tennant, when more likely it is due to thieves and burglars having access to the same key that the tradespeople use to access these properties.

Items like copper piping, fixed cabinetry, lighting fixtures etc, are being removed and sold on the black market. The causation to the next owner of the house is substantial increased costs in not only fixtures, but also increased insurance premiums.

In a poor economy, any added increase in costs to the consumer, fundamentally decreases the consumers ability to spend to improve the economy. The new Obama Administration is making accountability a forefront policy. It is time that the large federally backed companies also become accountable.

The reason for getting your locks changed is further heightened, with this knowledge. Not only with Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae properties but all properties, even new constructions, because how many keys do you really know are in circulation for your home or office?

Master key systems and key control systems need to have professional locksmith attention to maintain the security and safety of the consumer.

Change Locks Now! (for your peace of mind and your family safety)

(source...)

Identity Theft - Stolen Adresses

Identity theft is a common concern, but what if your address was stolen? An Omaha woman is getting unwanted business mail addressed to her home.

"Sometimes I get more mail for the locksmith than I do myself," says Lois, who doesn't want her last name used. Piles of junk mail for 24-Hour A Locksmith come to her address.

"Why would a reputable company hijack someone's address and use it as their business address unless there was some reason to conceal it?"

24-Hour A Locksmith has a local phone number, but a call goes to a dispatch center on the east coast. "They put the addresses in there so you know that they're nearby and in your area, but there's no store fronts at all there,” says a dispatcher.

"I'm trying to find out why that address is being used?" asked Channel 6 News’ Mike McKnight. After a Six On Your Side call to 24-Hour A Locksmith for assistance, a local locksmith was dispatched.

"I don't know if it's legal or illegal, I don't know anything about that," he said. "I have nothing to do with that.”

Would he call them and ask why are they doing this? “I don't think it's any of my business, that's their problem."

Postal inspector Dave Margritz found 24-Hour A Locksmith on three Internet Yellow Page Web sites. All show the address for the company which we won't reveal because it's Lois' house.

"We're going to contact those three Web sites that I found and demand they take that listing off there because that company is not authorized to use her address," says Margritz.

Lois worries that one day a disgruntled customer will show up on her doorstep when she's home alone. "I'm not in the phone book, I have an unlisted number. I just have no idea how this locksmith got my address and felt they could use it."

The hijacking of her address by an out-of-state dispatch company for local locksmiths has Lois worried about opening her mail and her door.

The locksmith who responded to our call to the dispatch center says he's an independent contractor working for Dependable Locksmith out of The Bronx, New York.

Channel 6 News left numerous messages with dispatchers asking a manager to call Six On Your Side. No one ever did.

(source...)

Google is the worlds leading search engine, but unfortunately it is not immune to the fraudulent tactics of these and other unscrupulous companies either.

I have personally investigated the matter and noticed some interesting characteristics. Specific among these characteristics is the fraudulent company's claim to be allowed to use the subject address due to their works having been performed there, at one time. This action specifically confuses the search engines ability to recognize an address as true or false.

Coincidentally, the other more generic search engine known as The Yellow Pages, also suffers from similar identity frauds because similar addresses are also not checked prior to inclusion in their print books. Therefore, it begs the question as to whether or not the Yellow Pages and web search engines are aiding and abetting these fraudulent companies to defraud the markeplace?

Biometric Access Control With Face Recognition Technology

RCG Security products distributes some brilliant technology designed for the access control market.

The FxGuard Pro offers the most accurate
facial identification and verification
technology available today. The technology
is user-friendly and highly intuitive with
verification time of less than 1 second.
For added security, FxGuard Pro adopts
dual-factor authentication (right token
and right face). The system is suitable for
access control at public exhibitions and
business & government premises.



• The first facial recognition application that runs primarily on TCP/IP.
• Easy integration with corporate LAN.
• Proven speed and accuracy.
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• Built-in infrared sensor and RFID reader.
• Perfect for access control and time-and-attendance application.
• Facial verification takes less than 1 second.

FxGuard Pro can easily integrate with
corporate Local Area Network (LAN) and
PC workstation or server. It is the first facial
recognition solution that runs primarily on
TCP/IP. This ensures cross-platform
compatibility and users don’t need to install
special software on any PC. With its
user-friendly Web Administration Interface,
clients can easily setup, maintain and access
information in the device by only using an
Internet browser.

FxGuard Pro biometric access
control can help to reduce security
cost with automated, unmanned
entry points. All required software
is embedded in the device and no
dedicated computer is required.
This reduces cost of maintenance.

(source...)

HDMI Connection Lock

Not the usual product posting in this site, but still a novel approach to securing those HDMI cords, that sometimes have a nasty habit of falling out.

Designed to work with most HDMI components and most HDMI cords, the premise is pretty simple. The lock uses either a screw or adhesive to stick itself around the HDMI port, forming a sort of outer port that can clamp to your HDMI cord. At $20 a pair, the EZ locks cost as much as some HDMI cords. But then again, if you're spending thousands or tens of thousands on your home theater setup, maybe they're not a horrible investment.

(source...)

Help Lock - Restroom Assistance For Mentally Or Physically Challenged

This concept door lock for bathrooms is designed to initiate assistance for people who might be physically or mentally challenged.

The concept is: In the initial setup, you program a time limit—say, 20 minutes—for your future bathroom. From that point on, whenever you close the door and activate the alarm, the Help Lock will sound a preliminary alarm after the allotted time, giving the bathroom inhabitant 30 seconds to deactivate it. After that, the doorknob will initiate an alert call to whatever number you've chosen to enter, whether it be a neighbor or emergency services.


This is a concept that will be released commercially in the near future.

(source...)

Is Your Car Remote Broken?

Has this ever happened to you?

Your car remote has broken and you think you need a new one or have it fixed.




Your remote buttons have become worn out due to excessive use?









Ever put your remote and keys in your pocket, after locking your car only to find your car unlocked when you return, possibly due to accidentally knocking and activating the remote?






Have you ever dropped your remote in a puddle and pick it up and it no longer works?









How about an extremely cost effective solution that does what you want quickly and easily?

A Remote Tote!

Installing your Remote Tote is so simple a child can do it!
Just 3 steps:
1. Insert remote in cover.
2. Attach Key Ring
3. Attach Keys



Now Available in Fashion Conscious Colors.

This incredibly effective and inexpensive option could save you hundreds of $$$ in replacement remote controls.

You purchase a tote or case for your cell/mobile phone to protect it, don't you? Why not protect you car remote too?

Contact us for details.
P.O.A.

Foreclosures In The Real Estate Market

Earlier this year, I wrote a post (repeated below) about an article appearing on NPR that accounted how some locksmiths are faring reasonably well during a sad economy. It is often not a pleasure to travel into neighborhoods to perform lock change requests for banks and foreclosure administrators, when you see exactly how many homes and properties remain vacant.



All Things Considered, April 16, 2008 · The mortgage crisis has been great business for locksmiths. Banks need to get the locks changed quickly because people who've just been evicted often take out their anger — or their appliances.

Click on the picture to listen to the article.

It is an unfortunate side effect of the mortgage crisis, but banks and other lenders are forced into these actions as a consequence.
Master Key Systems America, a family owned locksmith and door repair business, serving residents and businesses in the greater St Louis region with unrivalled services and products. Our specially equipped service vehicles are staffed by competent and qualified technicians, who can quickly and economically perform your required tasks, happily and efficiently. For an obligation free estimate, call us on (314)266-1533.

Door Knobs, Locks and Pulls in St Louis MO

For the last couple of years, I have been referring many clients to visit a very professionally set up and run showroom, that displays many assorted high quality brands of locks, pulls, door knobs, and cabinet hardware.

Many people choose to still shop at Lowe's and Home Depot for their hardware, but the professional advice and dedicated specialist displays presented by Locks & Pulls Design Elements located at 9590 Manchester Rd, Rock Hill, MO are second to none in the local St Louis market.

The company is owned by reknowned plating industry professionals Thiess Plating Co., a St Louis icon in excess of 60 years service to the greater St Louis community.

Pictured to the left, are some of the displays you can view in their showroom.









On display, are products from leading manufacturers, including Baldwin, Schlage, Kwikset, Emtek etc.

The extremely wide ranging displays and vast depth of products offered are tailored to the discerning tastes of home owners, remodellers and devellopers.





Visitors to their store often find replacement products for some of the very old hardware found in many of the period homes around St Louis. Many new home builders and renovators find the friendly staff and ambient environment suitable to helping them choose suitable and functional decorative locks, pulls, door knobs and decorative hardware to suit their varied tastes.

As the showroom for Thiess Plating Co, the staff can advise on repair and refurbishing of existing hardware at surprisingly competitive prices.

(source...)