TenantScreeningUSA.com Announces SmartMove® as a Tool to Prevent Identity Theft from Rental Applications
Waltham, MA (PRWEB) September 21, 2015 -- In Southern Florida identity theft continues to be a significant problem.
From WatchDog.org (Aug. 31, 15):
Identity fraud has reached epidemic proportions in South Florida. While the Federal Trade Commission reports that Florida had the highest rate of identity theft in the country in 2013 and 2014, Miami wins the award for having the most identity theft complaints in the United States at 316.2 per 100,000 residents. (1)
Identity theft is certainly not isolated to a single part of a single state in the country. Rather, it is an explosive and dynamic situation afflicting millions of people every day.
From Money.CNN.com (Feb. 06, 14):
Every two seconds, another American becomes a victim of identity fraud.
The number of identity fraud victims jumped to 13.1 million in 2013, a new report from Javelin Strategy & Research finds. That's an increase of 500,000 from 2012 and the second highest number of victims since Javelin began conducting its annual study in 2004. (2)
One area of potential identity fraud and theft that is not always considered is with the rental application prospective renters fill out prior to a tenant background check.
Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: "One must consider the rental application as an area of identity theft because it includes all the information a thief requires to procure a false identity including: social security number, date of birth, and full name."
Many large unit facilities may provide on-line or electronic applications but small to mid-size units may not.
Almeida states: "Smaller properties may not have the resources to provide on-line application processing but they do now with TenantScreeningUSA.com powered by TransUnion’s SmartMove® application tool."
TenantScreeningUSA.com in partnership with TransUnion can now provide a safe and secure transaction between tenant and landlord.
Almeida states: "It is a very simple process where all pertinent information is sent to TransUnion by the tenant and subsequently forwarded to the landlord. All sensitive data is masked in a manner that protects the information."
For the landlord SmartMove® allows for the creation of a highly customizable platform to gain information from potential renters in a secure environment but one that utilizes TransUnion's exhaustive information portfolio. Results are prompt and thorough, and can be customized to include joint-tenant recommendations. Subsequently, the tenant screening process becomes one less challenge for landlords.
For potential renters SmartMove® provides a secure environment for the exchange of information. Data is sent to TransUnion rather than an unknown landlord or property manager. Additionally, consumer credit checks will not affect credit scores. More importantly paper applications are eliminated as well as the potential of written data falling into the hands of potential identity thieves.
Almeida states: "In the end the protection of information is critical as identity theft continues to challenge people around the world. But, SmartMove® eliminates one area of potential theft."
TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company that can provide screening packages for landlords and property managers with property holdings large and small. With SmartMove® TenantScreeningUSA.com can assist landlords and property managers as well as tenants in protecting vital information during the application process.
Notes:
(1) watchdog.org/236132/identity-fraud-epidemic-2/
(2) money.cnn.com/2014/02/06/pf/identity-fraud/
Dan Adams, Criminal Background Records, http://www.criminalbackgroundrecords.com, +1 (877) 811-6557, [email protected]
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