Resident Files Privacy and Identity Theft

IMO, you have every right to see your own files. When you look at them, they will not be redacted. Redaction only occurs when the records are shared with people outside the HOA. This does mean that someone with access to the records can steal your info. You should be asking what security measures your HOA has to protect against identity theft. If there is no security policy, demand that they put one in place.

Why would your HOA have your social security number? They don't need it and should not have to provide it. In today's world there is no way of telling who or how your information is stolen. The only thing you can do is make sure to report it to one of the 3 credit reporting bureaus and put a fraud alert on your credit report.

Matter of fact, it is completely FREE to put on a 90 day fraud alert and get 1 free annual credit report a year. Don't fall for these companies or the credit reporting places in paying for "protection" or a copy unless your requesting more in one year. The second copy may indeed cost you some money.

There is a different fraud report that if you are a victim and can prove it, they have a different system setup that lasts longer than the 90 days. I would suggest contacting Experian today and find out your options.

It's going to be hard to prove your suspicions as a board member typically has no access to one's personal records. I know I did not even as president. Only our Bookkeeper who processed the payments had access to anyone's checks or information. I had no need to know it. They just produced a report that stated who paid and who didn't by lot owner #. So there was no way anyone could view or see anyone's information.

Gertrude,

Being defensive is a typical reaction when someone believe that they are being accused.

Although it's possible that information came from the Association, it's also possible that the information came from one of many stores that have been hacked over the past year: Target, Maceys, Staples, Neiman Marcus, Home Depot, UPS, Goodwill, P.F. Chang's, Sally's Beauty Supply, Michaels, Kmart, Sears, Albertsons, Dairy Queen and those are to simply name a few.

Unfortunately, we now live in a world where you should expect your financial information to be hacked at some point in time. As others have said, when it happens, or if you suspect it has happened, contact the financial institutions involved and they will help your take steps to issue new cards or change accounts.

My information was stolen when I ordered bulk flowers for a fund raiser. Even though I cancelled the card once I found out, it raised it's ugly head about a year later when I started receiving collection calls. It appears that the individual used the information to open e-bay seller accounts and when e-bay couldn't collect their share, they turned the issue over to collections. It took me over 3 months to get that one straightened out.

My suggestion is to approach the Board and apologize for any unintended miscommunication. Explain that you were simply trying to establish how the Association protects such information because you were a victim of identity theft.

My other suggestion is to contact credit bureaus and place a fraud alert on your credit.
See: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0275-place-fraud-alert from the Federal Trade Commission website.

I have to agree with Cyrstal just how have you determined in any rational way the source of your problem is within your HOA? Based on what?

Do you have an MC handling your accounts and collections? If so how would a single board member then have access to YOUR account information? Do they handle, recieve, or view your check and other information?

I gave my information over to phone to an HP representative in the Phillipines. Thought HP being a huge corporate entity is was advisable. Within a few days I was ordering shoes in the Phillipines on my AmEx card! Wonder who arranged that?????

In reality unless those responsible confess you will never know with any certainly who is responsible. Be glad they caught it and issued you a new account.

Have you contacted everyone other business or person you have paid by check? Have you initiated investigations on each of those sources.

And PLEASE try to avoid making accusations based on what other people "think" or feel in reagrds to the honesty of someone who you probably hardly know. You are innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around.

All,

If you go back and look at Gertrude's first posting in this forum you will see where she is aware that one of her Board members has a past arrest history and lost a professional license. I suspect that this is the reason why she initially suspected that the hack was associated with her HOA.

Hopefully, our responses have shown that the problem could have come from any of many known hacks or unpublished hacks into various companies that she may have done business with. Hopefully she will take our advice, check her credit report for other issues, place a fraud alert in her credit report and take steps to try and minimize any additional issues that may come from such a situation.

Thanks everybody I appreciate the replies. I am going to review my file and see what personal information is there or not. We are self managed and all Board Members have access to our files. I will close this and again thanks!