Archive for July, 2007
FLASH — Beware of Cyberspace Thiefs!
It just freaks me out — really, but last week we were reviewing our business account online and WHAM, we were hit with thousands of dollars of checks written on our account.
The problem was THAT ALTHOUGH ALL OF THE CHECKS WERE WRITTEN FROM “CAPITAL CITY INVESTMENTS” (our real estate company), THE COMPANY — nor anyone here — HADN’T WRITTEN ANY OF THEM!!!!!
We had been ripped off by a contemporary band of cyberspace thieves!
Actually, WE STILL DON’T KNOW HOW THEY DID IT, but there as bold as day on the computer screen were a series of printed checks from Capital City Investments made out to assorted individuals that had been cashed by grocery stores and other retail establishments in Las Vegas.Â
The fraud team from the bank is still investigating the nearly identical checks that contained every detail about the account printed on them (except for an unnamed minor, tiny AND SO VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL that helped in the investigation).
In today’s cyberspace world there doesn’t appear to be a safe haven against these thieves. The bank’s idea was to close the account and begin again (another nightmare for businesses with assorted automatic withdrawals). This was almost an episode for “These Ladies Mean Business,” but there’s nothing amusing about it.
HAS THIS HAPPENED TO YOU?
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT IT…OR FIGHT IT?
12 Different Characters who Live in the “Rain” Forest — Psyching Out the Real Estate Profession — Part Two
[Here’s the interview with me that my wife posted on Active Rain. It received so many responses that she hoped it’d make its way to the Carnival of Real Estate. So, here it goes…almost verbatim — names removed to protect the innocent.]
This is my second interview with my hubby, Dr. John Yacenda (a psychologist who also has a Nevada real estate license).
Q. — So tell me, doctor, what do you really think about Active Rain?
A. — Well, it’s really an interesting network of real estate professionals. Basically, I think it’s terrific, and you seem to really enjoy it and get a lot out of it. However (I know you were waiting for this), there are a lot of different “characters” that frequent Active Rain blogs.
Q. — Okay, so do you want to talk about these so called characters (lol)?
A. — I thought you’d never ask. I’d begin by saying I see at least 12 different “personalities” or characters playing in the “rain” night after night, either as authors of articles or as commentors on others’ articles. Let me break these out with a brief description:
1. The One-Up-Manship Character — Say what you want in your article, but this character is sure he or she has got something to add to it that will make it better (or show you he or she knows more than you).
2. The Ego Burper Character — He or she just has to tell you about something cool that happened (and in the right context these “ego burps” can be very healthy psychologically and professionally — you just need to recognize the oral flatulence for what it is…).
3. The Socialite Character — This person hops around from article to article to say “Hi” with a “rah rah” good post comment. He or she doesn’t offer much content, but he or she doesn’t want to miss a good party.
4. The Passionate Character — This character is consistently passionate (or pleasantly amusing) in his or her comments, and is always encouraging!
5. The Professor Character — You can see the professor everywhere in the Rain, spilling out the perfect and correct way to do things, and correcting those who don’t seem to get it “right.” This character is habitual in this even though he or she means no harm. (Yes, Dr. John, you are a real life professor and you have a way about encouraging your students getting it right!)
6. The Provost Character — This one has the last say on all debates and discussions like there’s nothing left to talk about once he or she has spoken/written — and of course, there’s always more to say — just ask the Socialite.
7. The Joiner Character — This character has to be a part of the action on popular blogs where lots of folks are commenting. Sometimes he or she sees a key point that appears to be missing and wants to weigh in on the debate, and sometimes this character just wants to add his or her two cents (a penny at a time).
8. The It’s Me Character — This is the true butterfly of the “Rain forest” showing up here and there on people’s blogs, dropping a bit of dew, collecting some nectar, and flying off to visit another blog. This character is nice to have around, but it’d be even nicer to get some content in the dew.
9. The Boaster and Roaster Character — This character has always got a great story to tell, and if you’ll listen you’ll get to hear all of it. The cool thing about it is that this character may have something instructive to say. If, however, this character turns Roaster, he or she may rub you the wrong way (time to take away his or her umbrella).
10. The Hungry Hunter Character — This character is on the prowl, looking for a good contact and potential business opportunity — not a bad thing at all as long as he or she is up front about it.
11. The Student Character — This character has had a bad day, bad experience, or rotten week and desperately (and genuinely) seeks help and comfort from someone out there in the rain; not a shoulder to cry on as much as some alternative solutions.
12. The Ranter Character — This character, unlike the Student, had a REALLY BAD DAY OR EXPERIENCE and he or she is hot, angry, disgruntled, and downright ticked off. The Ranter is not looking for counsel, but for a soft form of revenge (i.e., a verbal rant).
Once again, thank you, Dr. John, and I can only wonder now: Do any of you in the Rain see yourself in here (or have you been visited by any of these characters?)
It’s for certain — we have an interesting community, even when we’re all wet!
These Ladies Mean Business — Episode Five
It is never-ending — I mean who can believe this stuff?
It was 12:15 last evening (this morning!) when the phone rang. It was the dispatcher from another county’s Sheriff. A complaint had been registered with the Sheriff’s Office that one of my listings (a vacant REO property) was full of action!
Oh yes, a neighbor reported to the Sheriff that there were people in the house breaking glass, throwing things around, and being generally destructive.
The Sheriff’s dispatcher called me to get my permission for the Sheriff to break into the house to apprehend the trespassers. They needed my okay to essentially, break down the door if they felt it was necessary to apprehend the offenders.
What would you say to the Sheriff? Of course, go get the rascals and stop the damage! Mind you, it’s 15 minutes past midnight on a Thursday night/Friday morning, and I have an appointment at 8:30 a.m., and the property was 60 minutes away!
As it turns out, the Sheriff broke into the house and found NOTHING WAS OUT OF ORDER!
WHO PAYS? For starters, I would front the repair money and then make a request to my asset management company for reimbursement. No, the neighbor who mistakenly made the call would not be liable — after all, he could be an ally were this to actually happen in the future. I wouldn’t want to alienate his willingness to help out.
As it turned out, break-in damage was minimized and we Ladies Who Mean Business went out to the property and secured it.
The neighbor, you ask: was he drinking, or dreaming, or looking for a little action on a record breaking hot night?
Only God knows for sure, and He’s very good with confidentiality!
I sure hope the purchase offer expected this weekend on this property is not affected by the fact that four patrol cars answered the dispatch call — was a slow night in the city!
