Volume 3, Issue 8

June 2006  

About Per Mar

Contact Us

CORPORATE OFFICE

Per Mar Security Services
Per Mar Centre
1910 East Kimberly Rd
Davenport, IA 52807
Tel# 1-800-4-PERMAR (737627)
Fax # 563-359-6700

Michael Duffy Visits Quincy Office

Metal Thieves Likely to Turn to Aluminum

DHS Helps Small Businesses Prepare for Emergencies

Mortgage Fraud Reports Skyrocketing

FDIC Warns Against Phishing Scam

Michael Duffy Visits Quincy Office

As part of a continuing effort to better understand the opportunities each of our employees is seeking, as well as the benefits that customers expect from our company, Michael Duffy and members of our Senior Leadership Team are visiting each of our offices to meet with as many of our people as possible and listen to their ideas and comments regarding the needs of our customers. "We have always felt you learn more by listening", said Mike.

Pictured above are Michael Duffy, President, and Nancy Hall,
General Manager, with members of our Quincy office.

Metal Thieves Likely to Turn to Aluminum

Thieves, stealing copper for years as prices have risen have been mostly an expensive nuisance. Now they are targeting aluminum products, with experts saying safety is at risk as everything from light poles to highway guard rails are disappearing. "Aluminum prices are at an 18−year high," said Chuck Carr of the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries. Highway guardrails and light rails have been stolen for years on the East Coast but "now it's everywhere," said Matt Haslett of Metro Metals Northwest. Officers are staging metals theft stings. Strong demand from Asia is driving the metals market, said Robin Adams of CRU Strategies. He contends the mining industry was caught by surprise by demand and can't keep up with supplies of basic metals. The trend is likely to continue for a couple of years, Adams said. Other metals would be stolen, too, but it isn't practical. "Aluminum and copper are the ones that stand out. They are on highways," Adams said.

Source: Associated Press 06/06/06

DHS Helps Small Businesses Prepare for Emergencies

"Preparing small- to medium-sized businesses for emergencies is vital to the nation's economic health," says George Foresman, Under Secretary for Preparedness. "This new 'Ready Business' Mentoring Initiative will help provide business owners and managers with practical and usable tools to protect their companies against a broad range of hazards."

The mentoring guides are comprised of two workbooks, with step-by-step information designed to teach business owners and managers about affordable ways to better protect their businesses.

Some features of the mentoring guides include:

• A business continuity and disaster preparedness sample plan;
• A business emergency supply checklist
• An insurance discussion form
• A computer inventory form
• Testimonials and a list of additional resources

The Education Disaster Extension Network (EDEN) collaborated with Homeland Security to develop presentation materials that will assist business and community leaders in hosting business preparedness workshops across the nation. These presentation materials complement the mentoring guides.

Visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY to receive a "Get Ready Now" brochure.

Source: SecuritySolutions.com 5/30/06

Mortgage Fraud Reports Skyrocketing

Pending mortgage fraud cases increased 91.5% between 2003 and March 31, 2006, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as fraudsters continue to take advantage of modern technology and skyrocketing real estate values. There were 835 pending mortgage fraud cases with the FBI as of March 31. Losses from fraud among federally regulated banks topped $1 billion in 2005, up from roughly $200 million in 2003, according to the FBI.

Tips to protect you from becoming a victim of Mortgage Fraud

• Get referral for real estate and mortgage professionals. Check the licenses of the industry professionals with state, county, or city regulatory agencies.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. An outrageous promise of extraordinary profit in a short period of time signals a problem.
• Be wary of strangers and unsolicited contacts, as well as high-pressure sales techniques.
• Look at written information to include recent comparable sales in the area, and other documents such as tax assessments to verify the value of the property.
• Understand what you are signing and agreeing to--If you do not understand, re-read the documents, or seek assistance from an attorney.
• Make sure the name on your application matches the name on your identification.
• Review the title history to determine if the property has been sold multiple times within a short period--It could mean that this property has been "flipped" and the value falsely inflated.
• Know and understand the terms of your mortgage--Check your information against the information in the loan documents to ensure they are accurate and complete.
• Never sign any loan documents that contain blanks--This leaves you vulnerable to fraud.
• Check out the tips on the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) website at www.StopMortgageFraud.com for additional advice on avoiding mortgage fraud.

FDIC Warns Against Phishing Scam

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Consumer Call Centers in Kansas City, Missouri, and Washington, DC, have begun receiving a large number of complaints by consumers who received an e−mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The email informs the recipient that Department of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge has advised the FDIC to suspend all deposit insurance on the recipient’s bank account due to suspected violations of the USA PATRIOT Act. The email further indicates that deposit insurance will be suspended until personal identity, including bank account information, can be verified. Report similar attempts to obtain this information to the FDIC at alert@fdic.gov.

Source: www.fdic.gov

Quote of the Month: Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway. -John Wayne (1907 - 1979)