Ticor Tech Tip – Facebook long lost friends may not be who they say KOMO / Ticor Consumer Tip

When a long-lost friend contacts you via Facebook Messenger, you need to stop and make sure they really are your friend and not a fraudster in disguise who hopes to get you to send them personal information or possibly money.

“Hi, it’s your uncle Bob. I just wanted to tell you there’s this new government grant that you can get more information about, just text me your number and we’ll talk to you about it.”


If you get contacted by someone via Facebook Messenger, whether you know them or not, and they immediately want you to text or email them, and they ask for money or personal information – you’re dealing with a fraudster.


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Ticor Tech Tip – New Gift Card Phone Scam KOMO / Ticor Consumer Tip

We are proud to say we have partnered with long time local area consumer protection advocate Herb Weisbaum of KOMO to bring you Technology and Title Tips.

When someone calls you on the phone, it’s not always easy to tell if they’re a con artist pretending to be with a government agency, your bank or credit card company.

These imposters can be mighty convincing.

“I’m with the IRS and if you don’t pay right now with a gift card, you’re going to be arrested.”


“I’m calling from the courthouse and you owe a fine. You need to go out, buy a gift card, and pay it right now, or else.”

Before you listen to the call and run to the store to buy gifts cards, think about what you’re being asked to do and why it’s so ridiculous.


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Ticor Tech Tip – Beware of bogus emails about package deliveries KOMO / Ticor Consumer Tip

We are proud to say we have partnered with long time local area consumer protection advocate Herb Weisbaum of KOMO to bring you Technology and Title Tips.


Fraudsters are now sending emails designed to look like they’ve been sent from FedEx, UPS, DHL or the U.S. Postal Service.

The messages say a package is on its way, and you just need to click on the link or open the attachment to find out more and set up your delivery preferences. These bogus messages even have bogus tracking numbers. With so much online shopping going on right now, this is the perfect scam.

If you click on the link or open the attachment, you could put malware on your mobile device or computer, or you could be taken to a site that tricks you into giving away financial or sensitive personal information.


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Ticor Tech Tip – A Simple Way to Manage a Overload of Passwords KOMO / Ticor Consumer Tip

We are proud to say we have partnered with long time local area consumer protection advocate Herb Weisbaum of KOMO to bring you Technology and Title Tips.

You probably have dozens of online accounts and that makes it a real challenge to create strong passwords – passwords you can remember – for all of them.

That’s why so many people use a few simple passwords over and over again.
But weak passwords – like 12345, password, 123abc, admin, or iloveyou – are
easy to crack. And if that password grants access to multiple accounts, it puts all
of them at risk, if just one of them is compromised. The solution is to use a password manager. It lets you create complex passwords and store them securely for easy access on all your devices.


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Please join us in Welcoming Chris Del Rosso to Ticor Title!

We’re excited to announce that Chris Del Rosso has joined our Ticor Title Team! Chris’s experience in foreclosure searches, recordings, and examining will be an invaluable benefit to our clients.

About Chris

Chris started in the title industry in 1998 after graduating from Central Washington University with a degree in Criminal Justice. Chris has worked in recording, starts, examining, and in the title unit. For the last five years he has focused on being a resource for investor clients. Chris is a proud father of two daughters and a son ranging from 11 to 18 years old. He’s a huge Seahawk fan, loves the outdoors, and is excited to be a valuable resource to our clients here at Ticor.

Ticor Tech Tip – Fraudsters taking advantage of Contact Tracing process KOMO / Ticor Consumer Tip

We are proud to say we have partnered with long time local area consumer protection advocate Herb Weisbaum of KOMO to bring you Technology and Title Tips.

Contact tracing is one of the critical tools health departments have to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Unfortunately, it’s also given criminals a new way to scam people. Impostors are texting people, pretending to be with a health department, in order to steal their personal information, money – or both.

Before calling, some health departments send a text message telling you to expect a call – from a specific number – about an urgent
public health matter. Real contact tracers will ask for your name and address, date of birth, work information, and contact preferences. They will never ask for your Social Security number, immigration status, your bank account or credit card information, or ask you to pay
for anything.


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Ticor Tech Tip – Public Phone Charging Station Risks KOMO / Ticor Consumer Tip

Charging Station

We are proud to say we have partnered with long time local area consumer protection advocate Herb Weisbaum of KOMO to bring you Technology and Title Tips.

Smartphones and tablets use the same USB port and a single USB cable for charging and sharing data. Plug that smartphone or tablet into a free charging station and unlock it – to check your email or go online – and all your data is vulnerable. It’s called “juice-jacking” and while this is certainly not the one of the major threats we face with our mobile devices, the potential for serious damage is real.

These are just a few of the items potentially at risk if a hacker gains access to your device…

  • E-Mails
  • Usernames and Passwords
  • Websites You Visit
  • Contacts


Listen to the Consumer Tip Below.

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Ticor Tech Tip – What Every Realtor Should Know About Owner’s Title Insurance

You’re a real estate agent, so you know that buying a home can be overwhelming for many of your clients. Homebuyers can easily feel confused and frustrated by the mounds of paperwork they have to sign. Plus, all the fees associated with closing can sometimes be a surprise even to an experienced buyer.

Owner’s title insurance is one of those items often misunderstood by homebuyers at closing, yet its value is tremendous. As an important advisor to your clients, you are in the position to help them understand the value of owner’s title insurance and the dangers that can be incurred without it.

  • What is title insurance?
  • How does title insurance protect your clients?
  • Does title insurance ever expire?

Ticor Tech Tip – Understanding Probate

If a home is to be sold but the record owner is deceased it is imperative to identify who now owns the property. The transaction can then close if the proper parties execute a deed to the buyer.

A formal probate allows for the protection and orderly distribution, after payment of debts, of the assets of the deceased to heirs and/or devisees or a sale to a third party by the personal representative. Nonetheless, even though Washington probates are not expensive or time consuming, they often are not done. But how else will the buyer know that all of the title interest is properly conveyed? What if there are valid liens (including estate taxes or state Medicaid reimbursements) against the estate that would otherwise be paid in probate? That is where the “lack of probate” concept comes into play.

Three Basic Probate Situations

  • The owner was single – not married or a domestic partner
  • The owner was married or a domestic partner and it was community property
  • The owner was married or a domestic partner, but it was separate property (not community property)

There are variations: did the deceased have a will? Is the estate being probated (with or without a will)?

Ticor Welcomes Brandy Shell to our Covington Escrow Team!

We are excited to announce that Brandy Shell has joined our Covington Escrow Team! She brings over 18 years of industry experience with her and will be an invaluable resource for you and your clients.

Please join us in welcoming Brandy to the Ticor Title family!

About Brandy

Brandy began her escrow career in 2002 and quickly developed a passion for title and escrow. She worked her way from Escrow Assistant to Escrow Closer and then earned her LPO. Brandy specializes in resale transactions focusing on the Eastside and South King County marketplaces. She brings customer-focused communication and a skill for being solution oriented.

Brandy was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She also had the opportunity to live abroad and spent a few months in Brusque, Brazil. She currently resides with her husband and three kids in Lea Hill, Auburn. Brandy enjoys cooking up new recipes for her family, working in her yard, and watching her flowers grow.

Brandy Shell
LPO / Escrow Closer
253-631-3596
Brandy.Shell@ticortitle.com