Posted by sue_pa on 1/8/08 7:31am
Msg #229444

Borrower's "privacy"

I went to a web site yesterday to pick up docs. There were 300, yes I said 300, other orders there for the picking and all that glorious info available to anyone with the password - I'm assuming 300 other notaries. No wonder they want our photo and background checks. This is the jackpot for a smalltime id thiever !!!

Reply by Sharon Taylor on 1/8/08 7:37am
Msg #229445

It may be that the site has a way of identifying who accesses document packages, but even if it did, that would be like shutting the barn door after the horse has gotten loose.
Trying to figure out where your ID was stolen and by whom is a near-impossibility these days with so many places it's "public information". All we as notaries can do is safeguard the information in our possession and properly destroy it once we no longer need it for the assignment.

Reply by PAW on 1/8/08 8:38am
Msg #229454

Did you try to download a file that wasn't yours? Some systems that I know of, match the login information with the download request and will only allow targeted files to be downloaded. This may - or may not - be the case.

If it isn't the case, you may want to express your concern with the lender.

Reply by sue_pa on 1/8/08 9:42am
Msg #229482

no, I didn't try any others - but I easily could have accidentally as my signers had a very common name - and I'm guessing they were 275+ on the list. Had to keep scrolling down looking for their name. it actually is the lender's web site so they clearly are already aware of any security risks. The user name and password were VERY generic so I'm guessing I could peak at any of them. I've got one for tonight and it's the same log in info.

Reply by jba/fl on 1/8/08 10:53am
Msg #229495

I once had a file that was labeled incorrectly. I attempted that out of curiosity with no success. I think each file must be password protected individually.

Reply by Dennis_IN on 1/8/08 9:28am
Msg #229477

I have beeen to that site. I too had concerns about security. Next time, I am going to try to access another pkg & if I am successful will contact lender with my concerns.

Reply by desktopfull on 1/8/08 11:32am
Msg #229516

Watch out, some of them have it set up to where if you hit the wrong ones 3 times it will boot you from the system and lock you out. You have to get hold of the lender to get back in, and I wouldn't want to explain why I was trying to open the wrong package. In my case, the lender had keyed the wrong person for picking up my package and it wouldn't let me open it and I wound up booted from the system. Called them and they fixed it, but be careful if your just check out the security of the program.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 1/8/08 7:27pm
Msg #229704

That's a good point. Rather than testing the system, it might be a better idea to simply ask someone if that is possible, letting them know, of course, about your concerns. Always safer to be on the up-and-up on these things, I think.