As with any job that requires you to be alone with complete strangers in an isolated situation, there are going to sometimes be risks. Whether you're an Uber driver, a check-cashing cashier, or even a real estate agent.
On many occasions, real estate agents are showing a property to someone who they don't know and they'll be doing it by themselves. This circumstance can leave them at risk and there have been many occasions where real estate agents have been violently victimized as a result.
While working open houses alone, some real estate agents have been stolen from, others sexually assaulted, and some have even lost their lives due to an attack.
Among those precautions are things like not wearing expensive jewelry or driving an expensive car, trying to minimize the chances of them being selected as a target. As well, some have started to partner and go along with someone else, conducting the business arrangement in a group setting, rather than a one-on-one situation.
The majority of attacks take place in isolated homes and so being alone with the offender is going to bring about a greater potential of risk. And often, those who have been victimized have admitted that they overlooked some warning signs and questionable behavior of the offender.
Some real estate agents have started carrying handguns to protect themselves, pepper spray, or other self-defense tools. And one area of tech that those in the industry think might prove to be incredibly beneficial in helping to decrease the chances of victimization, is biometric technology.
Biometric identification might help to make the selling experience safer overall, say same in the industry, because it would enable a more secure customer experience.
According to the CEO of one biometrics startup that's known as Clear, Caryn Seidman-Becker, biometric technology can allow for users to register their fingerprints so that they can skip the line, and use their fingerprint rather than pulling out their traditional methods of identification.
Seidman-Becker claims that by using this technology that it's going to make the buying and selling home experience an overall better and more secure exchange.
There are still many people who are concerned about the risk of giving over their biometric information to other parties and for this reason, you won't find that everyone will be eager to scan their finger rather than pull out their passport or driver's license etc.
Seidman-Becker insists that security is a top concern of theirs and that for right now they're working on just finger scans, but in the future their services will also include eye and facial scans.
As far as biometric identification taking the place of traditional identification methods in the market, we've already got it making its way into various spaces. Facial recognition and biometric identification has already been tested at various airports around the US. Not only that, but fans have also been able to already use CLEAR's biometric identification tools at places like sports games, to achieve expedited security clearance into the game.
It might not be that long from now, where the majority of travelers are going to be scanning their fingers and faces rather than reaching for a boarding pass, train ticket, or passport.
Critics of CLEAR's procedures have called it unnecessary security theater. According to Bruce Schneier, who is a security expert from Harvard University, the entire process doesn't make much sense. Scheier says that organizations like CLEAR are protection rackets, this is because in circumstances like with sporting events, they are seemingly looking to replace metal detectors with biometric identification checks. The problem with metal detectors is obviously that they slow things down and so this alternative security option is an effort to try and streamline the crowds. But as far as ensuring safety, it still doesn't make much sense and isn't foolproof by any means.
Pics:
Pixabay
Pixabay
Giphy
via mysecuritysign.com
Sources:
https://guardllama.com/the-concerning-rise-of-real-estate-agent-attacks/
https://www.inman.com/2018/01/25/icny-18-how-biometrics-could-make-real-estate-safer/
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/iowa-real-estate-agent-murdered-in-model-home/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/guilty-verdict-in-kidnap-murder-of-real-estate-agent/
http://abcnews.go.com/US/real-estate-agent-survived-attack-man-showing-home/story?id=28865934
http://wsbt.com/news/local/realtors-emphasizing-safety-after-agent-attacked-in-south-bend
https://www.inman.com/2017/11/01/squatter-attacks-real-estate-agent-with-a-rake-highlighting-risks/
https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/78ygga/yankee-stadiums-next-gen-security-tech-isnt-making-anyone-safer
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-stadium-security-spt-20170101-story.html
http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/the-tsadhs-police-state-expands-to-biometric-iris-and-fingerprint-scans-at-airports/
https://www.airport-technology.com/features/complete-biometric-solutions-key-streamlining-airport-check-security/
Related Posts:
Building A Biometric Database For An Entire Country
https://steemit.com/technology/@doitvoluntarily/building-a-biometric-database-for-an-entire-country
Great post @doitvoluntarily bringing this to light ! there have been agents sexually asulted and killed here in the past in Vancouver and other areas ! Im in full agreement that they should have to show the house with another agent or agents , otherwise only do openhouse situations where theres more of a chance of someone at least showing up at any time , or there being more people there , and only have it for short period of time , like noon untill 4 pm etc. while its light out always helps ! Thanks for sharing ! upped qnd resteemed👍👍👍💕
You're in Vancouver, are you? I haven't heard of trouble of that sort occurring in Toronto.
Yet.
Yes ! well i used to live there but im now for 12 years now in Kelowna , it was in the news a while back , but it hasnt happened for quite awhile now . Maybe they are taking better security measures now then they used to . Glad to hear theres no trouble in Toronto , maybe they also take better measures now and are more careful then they used to be as well ! 👍👍👍😀
all your articles are always SOOO BLOODY COOL! i almost feel like i am reading a book and i get really into it! ehehe thanks so much for sharing!!
happy you could get something out of it! thanks for stopping by :)
I never even thought about what could happen to real estate agents and it does make sense, I hope more and more agents couple up so there will be less risk, very interesting doitvoluntarily🌹
don't you just love all this security that of course will never, never be used inappropriately? EVERY minute of our lives we are facing risks. Violating the rights of many for the security of the few is not the answer, giving everyone the right to take steps to protect themselves is.
It is always better to go with someone else. But as a taxi or car driver can be very difficult. The driver needs to be alone otherwise the other person would doubt something.
Biometric identification can be a better option in the future as many people carry fake identification.
Thank you for sharing :)
Once upon a time only criminals had to submit to such procedures, nobody should submit to such tests. Microchipping will follow this. These tests only offer benefits to corporations, not the individual.
it is true all the activities have their risks, some more than others, however immobile promoters are too exposed, usually an agent is dressed elegantly and travel in expensive car, the great majority are very well presented people, faces broceados, everything suggests that they are people who are well economically, for a long time I have observed these particularities of the agents and nothing has to do with the country where they develop their activities, in my opinion they are very rewarding. That does not entitle anyone to abuse them, but the survivors see that there is a possibility to put their practice into practice. (Delinquir)
Thank you very much dear friend @doitvoluntarily for sharing all this information and everything that is being done in safety custion to eradicate or minimize abuses or attacks.
I wish you a beautiful week
Using biometrics directly is a terrible idea. Once compromised, they are compromised forever. They aren't like PGP keys which can be revoked. What they should do is use distributed systems that distribute PII back to the source and use biometrics as inputs to SHA256 or some other hashing algorithm. But they won't do that because authority considers its control more important than your security.
A big NO.
With every technology it is bound to be hacked, whether it is sooner or later. People’s biometrics are their own. We shouldn’t even be talking about this and people should understand that you shouldn’t sell your identity for making money process faster.
This idea would go well with Factom. Once the biometric data is registered on the Factom blockchain as a hash, it can't be compromised. The only trouble is, the data would have to be measured via a reliable and stable metrics device.
If a picture differs by only one pixel, the hash changes into something completely different: unpredictably different, unless you know the exact change.
I think the introduction of biometric verification is a good move. I also think that the clients details should be immediately sent to the system and the agent should make sure to let the client know that his information has been forwarded. This will prevent the attacker from even causing any damage.
Love your post bro ,Thanks for sharing with us @doitvoluntarily <3
Thank you for the great post, bookmarked to read in peace again :)
Thank you for the great post
I can smell the future on this post. This technology will be keep secure anything. But, still need many improvisation with society.
Nice post @doitvoluntarily
dear @doitvoluntarily your post is a wondarful....& awsome writing....thank for sharing...
No one can argue that it is a practical move to use Biometric technology. However I fear we are only moving closer to the fulfillment of Bible in Revelation as to the mark on the hand and forehead and not being able to buy or sell without it. Thanks my friend.
thank you dear @ for your infermation
I agree entirely that it is a great idea for more serious / risky industries! Any transaction or meeting with risk that takes place without supervision or security; absolutely!
But I don't think it should replace identification validity entirely. I think on a smaller scale, for issues without much risk in which a person is required to provide identity, they should have the option not to.
I think it's a great idea for things in which verification is absolutely necessary for safety issues. A replacement, though? I, for one, wouldn't want to hand over my fingerprint several times a day. Feels a little cattle-like.
But that's just me. Thanks :)