The Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (ACMO) issued a service alert ahead of the winter holidays about an emerging security concern. In the Dec. 21 alert, ACMO said it had recently become aware of third-party contractors in the GTA copying fobs for condominium owners who had not obtained authorization to do so from management.

“With condo residents, their family and visitors coming and going for the holidays, fob access is often convenient,” stated the alert. “That said, fob access can also be abused or misused.”

The service may be advertised as fast and inexpensive, the alert noted, but making use of it could also breach corporation rules and compromise access control in buildings by circumventing protocols for requesting additional fobs.

ACMO offered the following tips for protecting buildings and residents in light of this emerging concern:

• Review the corporation’s declaration and rules for key duplication provisions.
• Remind residents regularly of these rules, emphasizing the dangers of unregulated fob copying.
• Maintain an up-to-date inventory of all fobs issued to and used by owners.
• Be aware of these third-party contractors, some of whom list the buildings for which they can copy fobs.