The Mortgage Daily

It's hard to imagine life without email. How did we do business before? But you have to admit that wading through the "junk" that's mixed in with the valued and important can be a daunting task, and much of that "junk" comes from our friends and co-workers.  It's time we had a "Miss Manners" of email Netiquette.  Over the next few days I'm going to share some ways we can make sure that we are not part of the problem.

Courtesy of PC Magazine:

1. Beware of hoaxes
People have the best intentions when forwarding dire warnings about the latest computer virus, telemarketer con jobs, extreme gas prices, and whatever chicanery the current political administration is trying to pull. The problem: The vast majority of e-mail about such topics is utter fiction.

We implore you: Whenever the opportunity strikes to pass on some juicy tale of woe that has hit your inbox, first visit Snopes.com. This is the Internet's master repository of what is a hoax and what isn't. Bookmark the site. Visit it and do a search. Whatever outrageous message you just received may, in fact, be only an urban legend. Other sites to check: The AFU & Urban Legends Archive and The Straight Dope.

2. Don't perpetuate pointlessness
Here's news you may not believe: Most people don't necessarily share your sense of humor. Or your belief in chain letters that can cause bad luck involving your reproductive organs.

Your friends and family are too polite to ask you to stop, and everyone else is far too busy dealing with important messages to want to wade through that nonsense. They all know to hit the delete key, but that doesn't mean receiving these messages isn't annoying. At the very least, ask your recepients - they may love the latest and greatest joke - but they may be happy to say "please stop."  Give them the option.

Tomorrow I'll have more .....

Legislative update--

• Yes, Congress is preparing to have hearings on issues that include originator compensation and restrictions on the use of Yield Spread Premiums. Stay tuned on that one.
• FHA has announced that they will be swooping in with SWAT teams to audit problem lenders. Make sure you are in compliance!
• The President has promised further enhancements to the Government's conforming refinance program.
• The NAMB has withdrawn their suit against the new appraisal process. We get the impression that the new administration is reviewing this policy.

Compliance –

Yes, FHA will be auditing lenders vigorously, but what about personal compliance for branches and individual loan officers? We can and should take very seriously, security around our handling of clients' personal information. Here are a few things to check.

• Never leave client files or worksheets on your desk where a casual observer can see or take that information. Have a drawer with a lock and use it when you walk away from your desk.
• Have a "strong" password on your computer(s). Those are passwords that contain letters, numbers and symbols. Don't use your birthday, wife's or children's names, etc. These can be guessed quite easily.
• If you carry information around on a portable "jump drive" make sure that you have encryption enabled. You could compromise everyone in your database without proper security.
• Use a shredder. When a file is complete and the home office has the final package. Go through all paper documents and shred those with personal or identifying information.
• And most importantly (and most overlooked) Do not discuss clients outside the office where conversations may be overheard.
• Being a loan officer puts you in a position of trust. Treat that trust with extreme care. You have your clients life in your hands!

This in today courtesy of PC World.  Very good information.

Looks like cybercriminals have turned social networking into a minefield of threats where one wrong move may have very serious consequences. Long gone are the days when you could avoid being scammed simply by using antivirus software. The more aware we are the harder bad guys are working on fooling us. And let me tell you, their techniques are getting more and more sophisticated! Have a look at some examples of the latest cyber criminals’ creations and how to avoid them.

1. Koobface (social networking worm). It gains access to Facebook profile pages and directs you to view a video that then encourages you to update your Flash player. Malicious files such as flash_update.exe and bloivar29.exe are being downloaded and installed which results in a range of visible problems, including modifications to your Facebook profile, with the immediate result being an error message to contact support. There is also the very real potential for your identity and finances to be compromised!
   
   
2. Picture files carrying malware are "planted" on social networking websites and instant messaging programs. Hackers try to convince you that your friend has sent you a message or IM to view pictures. Legitimate looking URL when clicked on sends you to an illegitimate website hosting malicious files and executables, which have been modified to appear to be genuine picture files (jpg, gif or bmp). When you download and open those "pictures"; the malware unknowingly runs on your computer. It allows hacker to take control over your operating system as well as the information in it and exposes you to identity fraud and financial loss!
   
   
3. UPS Delivery Threat, also known as Zbot. It delivers an illegitimate file when you are visiting a counterfeit UPS delivery site. Zbot has been known to distribute via email phishing and instant messenger.  Upon informing you that you have missed a UPS delivery, the message urges you to view the invoice online, which in fact sends you to the counterfeit website which downloads a malicious program designed to bypass the firewall and then steal banking and personal information.

So how do we protect ourselves against all this and more?

1. Be wary of unexpected IM messages and emails urging you to open or run an attachment or download
2. Run up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware software with behavioural protection – such as Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus. Keep it running in the background at all times.
3. Ensure you run Smart Updates and Microsoft updates regularly.
4. If you are asked to update to a new version of a flash player or any other program go to producers’ website and download the update directly from it.
5. Organisations usually contact you by phone or mail, so when you get an email call them back instead of clicking on any links or attachments.
6. Never let your guard down, it’s better to be too cautious then sorry.

This in today from HUD....

Homeowners NEVER have to pay to participate in the President’s Making Home Affordable program. I encourage anyone trying to modify or refinance their loans to a monthly mortgage payment that is affordable to visit the Making Home Affordable website at makinghomeaffordable.gov. Homeowners can also call the Homeowner’s HOPE Hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE for free foreclosure counseling assistance.

April is National Fair Housing Month. It’s important, in that context, to recognize that the economic and housing crises, including foreclosure scams, have disproportionately impacted minority populations across the country. Unscrupulous financial institutions, brokers, and others have broken their trust as lenders, cheating and lying to families fighting to make their way through this crisis. I will renew our commitment at HUD to fair housing enforcement, particularly for lending violations that target minority communities. As part of our broader effort to combat abuse and fraud, HUD is using new tools, including the SAFE Act and RESPA, to protect American families. We at HUD will ensure that all Americans, particularly those in areas previously victimized by unscrupulous practices, are protected and will enforce our laws against those who prey upon them.

Signed – Shaun Donovan, Secretary