Press Release

MetLife Auto & Home® is First to Launch Expanded Identity Protection Services to Include Assistance with Social Media Compromise and More

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:34:00 -0700

MetLife Auto & Home today announced an enhancement to its identity protection services to include assistance for digital threats, such as e-mail and social media compromise, as well as data breach victim assistance. The first to offer these enhanced features, the services are provided as part of the company’s long-offered identity protection program, which is provided to automobile, homeowners, renters, and condominium customers at no additional cost, in states where approved by regulators.

“We’re excited to expand our already broad service to offer solutions for new consumer threats arising from social media use and data breaches,” said Bill Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home. “MetLife Auto & Home has offered a comprehensive identity management program for years at no additional cost. Through this enhancement, MetLife Auto & Home is pleased to provide customers with even greater peace of mind, knowing their identities and reputation are a bit more secure.”

As part of the enhancement, MetLife Auto & Home’s identity protection services provider will now assist customers with:
• Assisted Living: Assists customers responsible for safeguarding the personal information of others.
• External Breach Victim Notification: Provides support for consumers who have their personal information exposed by third parties by explaining notices received.
• E-mail Compromise: Helps analyze and recover from e-mail hacking situations.
• Phish Assist: Provides assistance to evaluate received messages to avoid becoming a victim of e-mail or phone scams.
• Social Media Compromise: Provides advice concerning privacy settings, etc., to help protect your on-line identity and privacy.
• System Compromise: Providing contact information for preventative resources for before and assistance after a personal electronic device has become exposed.

These enhancements augment an already-robust suite of services, which will continue to include assistance with resolving or preventing instances of identity theft such as: fraudulent medical insurance claims, lost ID when traveling, setting fraud alerts post break-in, replacing ID following natural disaster, proactively protecting personal information that could be compromised while moving, replacement of marriage/civil union documents, false tax returns, securing personal information after death and notifying creditors, prevention of misuse of the personal information of children, placement of military fraud alerts when deployed on service, and more. These services help sort out issues with government agencies, credit companies, and medical providers and helps replace personal documents that were lost, damaged, or stolen.

To initiate a request for assistance, MetLife Auto & Home customers simply call the company’s 24-hour toll-free number, at which point a service provider will be assigned to work with a customer until all issues are resolved. Customers are matched with dedicated fraud specialists who remain their contacts throughout the process to clear their good names and restore reputations efficiently and quickly.

MetLife Auto & Home’s service is provided by IDentity Theft 911®, one of the nation’s foremost providers of identity theft crisis resolution and education services. The service is available in most states—excluding auto policy customers in New Hampshire and auto and home customers in North Carolina. The assistance differs from “ID theft insurance” coverage, which typically focuses on reimbursement of expenses and losses arising from identity theft, and can be sold for $35 - $45 or more annually.

For more information about preventing identity theft, including tips and a downloadable checklist to avoid being victimized, visit www.metlife.com/identitytheft.

The MetLife Auto & Home companies, subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), are collectively one of the nation’s leading personal lines property and casualty insurance providers, insuring over 3.8 million autos and homes. Their affiliate, MetLife, is a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the U.S. and Latin America, Europe, and Asia’s Pacific regions. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.

MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates, Warwick, RI.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

Directors Bring Extensive Healthcare and Education Knowledge to IDentity Theft 911 Board

Wed, 08 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, a leader in identity management and data risk management services, today announced another high profile addition to its Board of Directors. Herb Pardes, M.D. joins David H. Cohen, PhD, and the company’s long-time Chairman and Co-Founder, Adam K. Levin. Together, these three directors bring to the board decades of knowledge and expertise in the healthcare, higher education, credit and identity management sectors.

According to Levin, “This is an ongoing effort to align the skills of the outside directors more closely with the current and planned strategic objectives of the company.”

In 2012, healthcare providers and educational institutions were plagued by a record number of breaches -- exposing the personal identifying information of millions to identity thieves. Compromised institutions face significant reputational damage and harsh regulatory response as well as the enormous expense associated with damage control and litigation preparation and defense.

The Ponemon Institute recently reported in its "Annual Benchmark Study on Patient Privacy & Data Security" that 94% of health organizations sampled had at least one data breach in the past two years, and nearly half have had more than five incidents in the same period at an average cost of $2.4 million per breach. University attacks, like the string of hacks affecting more than 100 major institutions last year, have exposed the sensitive data of millions.

“As healthcare and higher education represent strong future growth areas for IDentity Theft 911 and IDT911 Consulting, I cannot think of two more qualified individuals than Drs. Pardes and Cohen to advise our company on how best to capitalize on these opportunities,” said Levin. “Both have a proven track record of successfully growing enterprises and a history of productively working together in senior administration at Columbia University and at the Association of American Medical Colleges where each has held the elected office of Chairman of the Association.”

Dr. Cohen spent 17 years in university senior administration. From 1986 to 1995 he served as Vice President for Research, then Provost at Northwestern University and from 1995 to 2003 as Vice President and Dean of the Faculty for Arts and Sciences at Columbia University. Dr. Cohen is currently Vice President and Dean of the Faculty Emeritus, Alan H. Kempner Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, and Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience in Psychiatry at Columbia University. He has been a consultant for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the National Academy of Sciences. He has served on a number of for-profit and not-for-profit boards and currently is a director of Eduventures and Oaktree Educational Partners.

Dr. Pardes currently serves as Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where he was previously its president and CEO. Under his leadership, New York-Presbyterian rose to become one of the most highly regarded and comprehensive health care institutions in the world. The hospital is top-ranked in the New York metropolitan area and is consistently ranked among the best academic medical institutions in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. Prior to his tenure at New York-Presbyterian, Dr. Pardes was Vice President for Health Sciences of the Columbia University Medical Center and Dean of the School of Medicine. He served as Assistant U.S. Surgeon General and Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (1978-1984). Also, he was President of the American Psychiatric Association.

“Colleges and universities are under constant assault by thieves, hackers and insiders who seek to exploit the personal information of others for their personal financial gain. It is incumbent upon these institutions to more fully appreciate the treasure trove of data they hold and design and implement stricter security protocols to more effectively protect the sensitive information and ensure the privacy of their staff and students,” said Dr. Cohen.

Dr. Cohen said, “I am exceedingly proud of my association with IDentity Theft 911. It is deeply dedicated to a demanding and critical mission and is an organization of the highest integrity. The company has already assisted universities through significant data crises and is actively expanding its team in response to a growing caseload. I find its strategic objectives and the plan to reorganize the board to align with those objectives compelling persuasive. I am delighted that Herb Pardes has joined us and look forward to working with him once again.”

Dr. Pardes said, “Today healthcare institutions are in the eye of a perfect storm. They face a variety of daunting challenges: the Affordable Healthcare Act, the HITECH Act, the Omnibus HIPAA rules, federally mandated digitization of patient records, complicated privacy and security compliance issues and an environment where the value of purloined medical records is skyrocketing. As has always been the case in my profession, there is no substitute for meticulous attention to details, access to the most talented professionals with the best minds, and preparation for any eventuality.”

Dr. Pardes continued, “I am delighted to be associated with Identity Theft 911. They bring broad and top notch capacity to the growing problems of data breach and identity theft. These are important issues of considerable challenge to healthcare providers throughout the nation.”

About IDentity Theft 911®
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 17.5 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. In addition, the company provides preventative and breach response services to more than 600,000 businesses. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

Ascent Partners with IDT911 to Offer Cyber Policyholders Privacy Breach Assistance

Tue, 07 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

Ascent Underwriting, today announced that it has partnered with IDT911, North America’s premier identity and data risk management services provider, to deliver proactive and reactive privacy breach services to all business policyholders. Included with these services are education, training, and access to experts who assess breach risk and respond should a privacy breach occur. These services are tailor-made for businesses that manage, store, and share data of all kinds, including customer, credit, patient, and other sensitive information.

According to a recent survey, cyber threats are the top business risk concern for executives. Eighty percent of executives and insurance brokers polled said they find it difficult to keep pace with changing cyber threats, leaving their companies exposed to a privacy breach, financial loss, and reputational risk.

Ascent Underwriting will be offering privacy breach assistance through select brokers in Canada, the United States and Europe. The company prides itself on its ability to educate about the need for a cyber product. Policyholders will work directly with well-informed brokers to determine the appropriate coverage limits in order to maintain the proper protection for policyholders’ risks.
"Having the right privacy breach training and response services will help Canadian businesses defend reputation, credibility and trust that could be easily damaged by even the smallest data exposure," said David Umbers, a director of Ascent. “Businesses look to their insurer for cutting-edge solutions and we know that IDT911’s experience in the Canadian market will support our privacy breach efforts.”

The privacy breach services provided to Ascent Underwriting’s policyholders include:
• An online breach website featuring exclusive resources to help business owners recognize data risks, as well as federal and provincial compliance laws and their notification requirements
• Access to IDT911's online training tools to help businesses better understand privacy risks and manage their data liabilities
• Proactive, on-call professional assistance to help companies enhance their data privacy procedures
• Response services to assist breach victims and help them avoid identity theft and fraud
• Project management services that will help mitigate the total costs that might be incurred as a result of a privacy breach

"We are excited about the opportunity to expand our Canadian business efforts with Ascent Underwriting as this is our first relationship with a Lloyd’s supported Managing General Agent in Canada,” said Nate Spurrier, Canadian director, IDT911. “Ascent Underwriting has a lot of experience with this product in the US and European markets and we are excited to see how their experience changes the Canadian cyber market.”

To learn more about Ascent’s privacy breach services, please contact your insurance broker or visit the Ascent Underwriting Breach Response website.

About IDT911
Founded in 2003, IDT911 is North America’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves over 17.5 million households across North America and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, North America’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 600,000 businesses manage their risk of data breaches. IDT911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.ca, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

Ascent Underwriting is a specialist Managing General Agent (MGA) developing and underwriting emerging cyber risk policies on behalf of a number of Lloyd’s Syndicates accessed by London Market brokers to protect their clients worldwide.

Ascent has been initially formed as a trading division of Safeonline LLP whilst awaiting independent FSA and Lloyds regulatory approval, which is expected to be completed during 2013.

Additional information may be found at www.ascentunderwriting.com

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

IDentity Theft 911 Announces Formation of Subsidiary Company, IDT911 Consulting

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:30:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, a leader in identity management and data risk management services, is proud to announce the formation of IDT911 Consulting, a wholly owned subsidiary of IDentity Theft 911. The formation is a strategic move to enhance the company’s data risk management service capabilities. IDT911 Consulting specializes in providing proactive risk assessments and protection programs as well as swiftly reacting to data, risk, security, and privacy issues with a balanced, risk-based approach.

IDT911 Consulting has provided data breach services to more than 2,000 breach events under parent company IDentity Theft 911. With the rise of cybercrime, the protection of sensitive data has never been more important. In response to this growing need for proactive data security services, IDT911 Consulting was formed to assist companies with building customized data and operational risk management programs that will help protect information and financial assets from loss, theft or accidental exposure.

While the parent company will still provide DataRiskStages™ to businesses through their insurance carriers, IDT911 Consulting will work directly with clients to provide assessments that identify the clients’ most critical vulnerabilities and provide guidance on how to quickly enhance their information security posture inside of budget constraints and without putting undue pressure on operations.

“The experience of IDentity Theft 911 in the data risk space is vast, having served countless organizations with their security and privacy needs,” said Sean Daly, President and COO, IDentity Theft 911. “IDT911 Consulting was formed as a means to better deliver our services under a more cohesive name brand. IDT911 Consulting was designed with the mission to bring proven best practices for data breach response to a wide range of businesses and the subsidiary will help us achieve that.” He adds, “the same leadership, experience, and service our clients have grown to love will remain unchanged, and in fact, will only improve as we expand the IDT911 Consulting team.”

IDT911 Consulting is led by data risk veteran Brian McGinley who serves as the subsidiary’s chief executive officer. Brian has more than 30 years of experience in risk management, security, fraud prevention and compliance, and has held senior positions at Wachovia Corporation and Citigroup. He served as chairman of the Identity Theft Assistance Center, a not-for-profit membership corporation sponsored by The Financial Services Roundtable.

“I’m excited to be spearheading a talented group of individuals that have spent decades assisting companies with their data risk plans and responses,” said McGinley. “Our cumulative experience in working with healthcare organizations, law firms, educational institutions, and other establishments with special needs makes us poised to deliver the best data risk assessments from soup to nuts.”

Joining Brian is Chief Operating Officer Deena Coffman and Chief Privacy Officer Eduard Goodman. Coffman has broad experience providing guidance to clients adopting technology or building programs relating to data privacy, data security, operational risk and electronic discovery. She is former COO of Kroll Cyber Security and Information Assurance, and also managed international projects with the Analytical and Forensic Technology group at Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, and held global responsibility as the Discovery Director for Johnson & Johnson. Goodman is an internationally trained attorney and privacy expert, with more than a decade of experience in privacy law, fraud and identity management. Both hold CIPP/US certification and Goodman also holds CIPP/Canada certification.

IDT911 Consulting services include:
• Data breach response
• Vulnerability assessment
• Malware detection and removal
• Data privacy and security consulting
• Written Information Security Plan (WISP) development
• Incident response planning and testing
• Security awareness training for employees
• Information security and data risk assessment
• Digital forensics
• Insurance coverage consulting
• Vendor due diligence & security vetting

About IDT911 Consulting
IDT911 Consulting was formed to assists companies with building customized technical, data and operational risk management programs that will help protect information and financial assets from loss, theft or accidental exposure. The company specializes in data breach response, incident response, vulnerability assessments, policy/procedure development, and training/awareness program development. IDT911 Consulting is a subsidiary of IDentity Theft 911. For more information, please visit www.IDT911Consulting.com.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com .

IDentity Theft 911 Chief Privacy Officer to Moderate Panel at 2013 PLUS Medical PL Symposium

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that its Chief Privacy Officer Ed Goodman will moderate a panel presentation at the upcoming 2013 PLUS Medical PL Symposium in Chicago from April 10-11, 2013. The panel, titled ‘Technology and Data Security in Medicine: A Delicate Balance’, will be held on Thursday, April 11 at 10:15 a.m. CDT.

The panel will explore the minefield of risks associated with cloud-based solutions and smartphone devices in a medical setting, as well as the potential emerging issues and liabilities. Goodman joins an esteemed list of panelists and speakers at the conference.

Modern data security risks for medical service providers and patients go far beyond network security and the Internet. Exponential growth in smart phone usage and integration with cloud based file storage and management providing access to Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) allows for increased access and convenience to patient information. Unfortunately, it also opens up a host of issues regarding data security and integrity issues. The lively panel discussion will look at:
• The legal risks surrounding smart phone use, social media exposures, and the cloud.
• Developing written policies and practices to better cope with these risks
• The future of medical smartphone usage from a privacy/security perspective

Explaining the panel presentation, Goodman said, “The increase in smartphone usage and the need for convenient, advanced healthcare practices, put cloud computing and EHR front and center. If adopters aren’t well versed in the security risks that could come along with this technology, they could be facing breach fines, penalties, reputational impact, and more.” He adds, “I’m really excited to moderate this panel with such a revered list of panelists. The insight they will share, driven from their own experiences, will be invaluable to those in the medical field looking to stay ahead of the curve in customer service and patient privacy.”

IDentity Theft 911 offers DataRiskStages™ to provide proactive and reactive data breach services to clients, including access to a team of breach consulting experts and 24/7 access to a breach preparedness website. In addition, the firm also offers Data Risk Management Consulting Solutions to identify a company's specific vulnerabilities, provide guidance on enhancing its protection posture, and address its incident response needs. Plus, IDentity Theft 911 also offers in-depth consulting engagements for Data Risk & Breach Response, Digital Forensics, Privacy, Hiring Practices and Corporate Banking, and Data Classification.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com .

IDentity Theft 911 Chief Executive Officer to Lead Social Media and Insurer Risk Discussion at NAMIC Personal Lines Seminar

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 01:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that IDentity Theft 911 CEO Matt Cullina will lead a session at the NAMIC 2013 Personal Lines Seminar April 10-12 in Chicago.

Cullina will present Not So Tweet and Innocent—How Social Media Impacts Personal Lines on Thursday, April 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. CDT. The presentation will focus on the increasing use of social media and the internet and the emerging risk areas for insurers, like:
• Does the homeowner on the policy expect to be covered if faced with a cyberbullying (or other online activity) lawsuit?
• Are there any exclusions in the policy that would limit coverage?
• As a carrier, do we have the competitive edge to cover liability from social media actions to best serve our customers?
The session will also address risk mitigation tools and best practices to protect policyholders. Cullina will join a roster of presenters from companies like The Motorists Insurance Group, Gen Re, Munich Reinsurance, and Insurance Information Institute.

Explaining the presentation content, Cullina said, “The advent of social media has created a new risk category for insurers. A parent may assume they’re covered under their homeowner’s policy for a cyberbullying lawsuit, but personal injury is usually not covered under a standard homeowner’s insurance policy.” He adds, “Carriers need to examine their coverage offerings to see if their policies cover social media risks and liabilities. It’s imperative that insurers know how to educate their policyholders on the risks while maintaining the appropriate amount of coverage.”

In response to parents’ concerns about proactively monitoring their child’s activity on social networks, IDentity Theft 911 offers SocialScout, an online Parental Intelligence System. SocialScout helps parents monitor and quickly analyze their child’s social networking and mobile phone activity–keeping parents informed of predators, cyberbullies and reputation-damaging behavior. Designed for kids ages 9-17, SocialScout™ provides a comprehensive look at a child’s social network behavior, including access to their actions on Smartphone email and text messaging.

“SocialScout allows parents to have an open dialogue with their child about social media and the dangers they may encounter,” said Cullina. “Parents are oftentimes unaware of what their child is doing on social networks and the potential legal repercussions their child’s actions could have. SocialScout allows parents to view their child’s activities to help them make better choices.”

The NAMIC Personal Lines Seminar is an annual event focused specifically for underwriting, marketing (agent relations/business development), and product development professionals. NAMIC provides the unique opportunity for attendees to gather valuable information on current issues and operational excellence, with incorporated discussions on technology solutions and emerging issues. Attendees are encouraged to network during several of the sessions, breaks, and roundtable discussions held during the event. This seminar is designed for personal lines underwriters and marketing executives from property/casualty insurance companies.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com .

Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company Offers Complimentary Identity Protection and Identity Theft Resolution Services to Policyholders

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company has partnered to offer identity protection and identity theft resolution services to policyholders and their families at no charge. Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company policyholders now enjoy complimentary IDentity Theft 911’s LifeStages® Identity Management Services throughout the times in life when they are most vulnerable to identity theft.

According to the 2013 Javelin Strategy & Research Identity Fraud Report, more than 12.6 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2012. Recognizing this trend, Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company policyholders can rest assured knowing their insurance company can help resolve crises ranging from fire loss to property damage, personal law suits and also identity theft.

“Our members/policyholders will now receive the benefit of identity management services for no additional premium,” said James A. Esse, President and CEO, Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company. “Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company has joined forces with IDentity Theft 911 to offer identity management services to our members/policyholders and their families. We recognize that identity theft is a rapidly growing threat. Our goal is to help our members/policyholders avoid the crime of identity theft. They can now take comfort in knowing they have another benefit – identity management services – at their fingertips.”

IDentity Theft 911 fraud specialists provide high-touch service to victims from the initial call for help until the case is resolved. Their expertise covers a range of issues, from proactive measures to take throughout a person’s life to true identity theft and account takeovers. The fraud specialists work one-on-one with victims until resolution is complete.

“Victims are often alone in trying to repair their reputation and identity when faced with an identity theft issue,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “A considerable amount of time, money, and effort can be lost trying to navigate an identity crisis if not properly assisted. We’re excited Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company has selected us to provide its policyholders and their families with white-glove identity management and resolution services. Together, we save their policyholders time, frustration, and money by resolving their identity issues efficiently and appropriately.”

About IDentity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 17.5 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 600,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company

Sawgrass Mutual specializes in writing voluntary homeowner’s policies through a select network of professional independent agent partners located throughout Florida. As “partners”, Sawgrass Mutual and our selected agents are focused on the wellbeing of our policyholders and the communities in which they reside.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

VyStar Credit Union Expands Partnership with IDentity Theft 911 to Offer Identity Protection and Reputation Management Services

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:00:00 -0700

VyStar Credit Union, today announced that it has partnered with IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, to offer various levels of identity protection and reputation management services to VyStar members and their families. The suite of services includes access to SocialScout™, LifeStages® Identity Management Services, and FraudScout™ for little to no cost. VyStar is the first credit union to offer SocialScout, a testament to their commitment in providing innovative services to members.

According to a Harris Interactive pollⁱ, more than two-thirds of parents polled note that their 9–14 year-old child uses social networking. With the influx of social networking sites, that number will only increase and parents are taking notice. Designed for kids ages 9-17, SocialScout™ is a groundbreaking online Parental Intelligence System that helps parents monitor and quickly analyze their child’s social networking and mobile phone activity–keeping parents informed of predators, cyberbullies and reputation-damaging behavior. SocialScout provides a comprehensive look at a child’s social network behavior, including access to their actions on Smartphone email and text messaging.

When personal information is lost, stolen or otherwise compromised victims may not know where to turn, how to protect themselves, or how to minimize losses or resolve problems that may occur. Now, with LifeStages®, a free service from VyStar, an experienced IDentity Theft 911 fraud specialist will help victims safeguard their identity and help prevent potential damage to their credit and financial reputation before it happens. Should fraud occur, an IDentity Theft 911 fraud specialist will provide unlimited assistance to restore a victim’s identity, handling the entire notification and documentation process. This valuable benefit provides unlimited assistance to help resolve identity theft and minimize risk at every stage of life.

“As a credit union, we’re dedicated to serving as trusted advisors to help members through every aspect of their lives,” said Terry West, President and CEO, VyStar Credit Union. “We are pleased to be able to offer a complete suite of services to protect members and their families from identity theft and reputation issues through a partnership with IDentity Theft 911. Identity theft can wreak havoc on a victim, but members can rest assured that they’re in good hands to get their identity and their financial wellbeing restored.”

Identity theft often hits when its victims are not looking, which is why FraudScout™ is an invaluable service. Around the clock, the service scours through millions of credit and public data on a continuous basis to keep information safe. FraudScout™ will help protect VyStar members and their families by identifying activity that might indicate personal information has been compromised – alerting members potentially days or months before it would be detected without a monitoring service.

“Identity theft comes in many forms and no longer just encompasses a victim’s financial life; it can affect their medical history, children, reputation, tax filings, and more,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “VyStar Credit Union has taken an important step in protecting their customers by being the first credit union to offer SocialScout. Packaged with other fraud-fighting services, VyStar members can enjoy the utmost in identity theft management and resolution services.”

Combined, SocialScout™, LifeStages®, and FraudScout™ offer services for members and their families so they can enjoy inclusive identity and reputation protection. To learn more, visit www.vystarcu.org or call 904-777-6000 (Option #9) or outside of Jacksonville 1-800-445-6289 (Option #9).

About IDentity Theft 911®
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 17.5 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 600,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About VyStar Credit Union
VyStar Credit Union is the largest state-chartered financial institution in Florida. VyStar now serves over 428,000 members with assets totaling more than $4.7 billion. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the following Florida counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Union and Volusia.

ⁱHarris Interactive online survey of 613 parents of children ages 9 through 14 years old, conducted March 21-26, 2012.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

The Guarantee Company of North America Partners with IDT911 to Help Vulnerable Canadian Businesses Manage Privacy Breaches

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:00:00 -0700

Canadian businesses are facing ever-increasing risks and costs of privacy breaches that can expose sensitive customer data. The risks are everywhere—arising both from inside and outside of businesses—ranging from employee negligence to third party vendor breaches and cyber hacks.

In response to the growing need for Canadian businesses to protect against the reputational risks and financial burden of privacy breaches, The Guarantee Company of North America (The Guarantee) has partnered with IDT911, North America’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, to deliver proactive and reactive privacy breach services and tools to all Corporate Insurance Policyholders. These services, which include education and training, are designed for businesses that manage, store, share data of all kinds – customer, credit, patient, and more.

According to a recent survey cyber threats are the top business risk concern for executives. Eighty percent of the executives and insurance brokers polled said they find it difficult to keep pace with changing cyber threats, leaving their companies exposed to a privacy breach, financial loss, and reputational risk.

"There doesn't seem to be a week that goes by that you do not read about a new case of corporate hacking, data theft or security breach,” said Alister Campbell, CEO, The Guarantee. “That's why I am very excited to partner with IDT911 to offer both pro-active and reactive breach services to all of our Corporate Insurance policyholders. This is an area of growing exposure for corporations and particularly for members of Boards of Directors. As our customers’ insurance partner we are pleased to be in a position to offer this valuable additional benefit to enhance protection and the value of our partnership.”

The privacy breach services provided to The Guarantee’s policyholders include:
• An online breach website featuring exclusive resources to help business owners recognize data risks, as well as federal and provincial compliance laws and their notification requirements
• Access to IDT911's online training tools to help businesses better understand privacy risks and manage their data liabilities
• Proactive, on-call professional assistance to help companies enhance their data privacy procedures
• Response services to assist breach victims and help them avoid identity theft and fraud
• Project Management services that will help mitigate the total costs that might be incurred as a result of a privacy breach

"Having been a victim of identity theft, I know firsthand how sensitive personal information can be,” said Glenn Woodard, National Vice President, The Guarantee. “Corporate Insurance clients possess varying degrees of personal information and the services provided by IDT911 can help prevent and mitigate potential reputation and financial risk.”

"With our support, The Guarantee provides Canadian companies with around-the-clock access to experts well versed in best practices for data storage, retention and protection, Canadian privacy and regulatory requirements, and privacy breach crisis management,” said Nate Spurrier, Canadian director, IDT911. “We’re excited The Guarantee has chosen us as their partner to help corporate insurance policyholders safeguard their private information.”

To learn more about The Guarantee’s privacy breach services, please contact your insurance broker.

About IDT911
Founded in 2003, IDT911 is North America’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 17 million households across North America and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, North America’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 600,000 businesses manage their risk of data breaches. IDT911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.ca, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About The Guarantee Company of North America
The Guarantee Company of North America (The Guarantee) is a leader in specialty insurance within the North American marketplace providing insurance products supported by a depth of knowledge and expertise, to niche segments including the construction industry, corporate programs and customized personal insurance.

Operating and servicing clients across Canada and throughout the United States, our Canadian head office is in Toronto, Ontario and the U.S. head office is located in Detroit, Michigan.

For additional information about The Guarantee and their full range of products and services, please visit www.gcna.com.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

American Agricultural Insurance Company Partners with IDentity Theft 911 to Offer Comprehensive Data Breach Solution

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced a partnership with American Agricultural Insurance Company to offer data breach coverage programs to the Farm Bureau insurance companies and their commercial policyholders. In conjunction with American Agricultural’s coverage and forms, this new offering provides proactive and reactive support and includes guidance in creating a breach response strategy, as well as access to IDentity Theft 911’s team of data breach experts. These services are being offered as part of a Data Breach reinsurance product and are currently available.

A company laptop is stolen, a backup drive is missing, paper files are lost, and online systems are hacked. Data breaches impact businesses every day. That’s why it’s more important than ever for companies to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their customers.

Data Breach Coverage policyholders have online assistance to prepare for a breach. If a breach occurs, IDentity Theft 911 experts are ready to help commercial policyholders swiftly and effectively respond. The company will assess breach severity, advise on notification and regulatory requirements, and assist with media relations and necessary steps to safeguard sensitive information. Every step of the way, commercial and farm policyholders have a partner help prevent regulatory sanctions or fines, avoid civil litigation and preserve policyholders’ reputations.

Fraud specialist assistance is available to breach notification recipients. A simple toll-free call to IDentity Theft 911’s experienced fraud team helps affected people with answers and resolution services. Personal services include a dedicated fraud specialist to review credit files, place fraud alerts, help reading and interpreting credit reports, notify relevant creditors and government agencies and conduct ongoing follow-up.

“American Ag has partnered with IDentity Theft 911 to provide data breach solutions to our clients because of their unsurpassed knowledge of breach management,” said Lorie Graham, Senior Underwriting and Corporate Risk Manager, American Ag. “Farm and commercial policyholders have specialized needs, and IDentity Theft 911 delivers the broadest services and customer support in the marketplace.”

This Data Breach Coverage also helps commercial and farm policyholders comply with state and national breach requirements mandated by the federal government. Nationally, 46 breach notification laws are in effect. In addition, impending federal Red Flag regulations will mandate that 11 million businesses have identity theft prevention plans in place.

“Farm and commercial policyholders typically find themselves at a crossroads when trying to find a suitable plan for risk mitigation and coverage,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “By partnering with American Ag, we’re able to help Farm Bureau insurance companies implement a turnkey solution for policyholders in conjunction with American Ag’s breach coverage. In doing this, we can offer policyholders tailored coverage to suit their market needs.”

The American Ag new Data Breach Coverage is the expert solution that provides breach preparation support, mitigates the evolving risks, manages the crisis and safeguards your policyholders.

About IDentity Theft 911®
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 17.5 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 600,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About American Agricultural Insurance Company
American Ag has provided reinsurance solutions to the Farm Bureau insurance companies since 1948. They are committed to providing solutions that promote the financial strength and success of the Farm Bureau insurance companies who support the Farm Bureau organizations and their members.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

Frankenmuth Insurance Renews Identity Management Services to Policyholders Through IDentity Theft 911 Partnership

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, and Frankenmuth Insurance, a Michigan based mutual insurance company, continues its partnership to offer identity management services to homeowners and personal auto policyholders. For the next three years, Frankenmuth Insurance policyholders can enjoy IDentity Theft 911’s LifeStages® Identity Management services for no cost to protect them throughout the times in life when they are most vulnerable to identity theft.

Serving as trusted advisor to seven of 10 of the top insurance companies in the United States and servicing more than 17.5 million households across the country, IDentity Theft 911 has a unique understanding of insurance policyholders’ needs. Poised to offer the best service to policyholders, the choice to continue a long-standing relationship was a simple one for Frankenmuth Insurance.

“IDentity Theft 911 has a solid reputation in serving mutual insurance companies’ unique needs,” said John Pfister, director of personal lines, Frankenmuth Insurance. “We are rejoining with the company because of its unrivaled customer service, knowledge of the insurance landscape, and its ability to cover all types of issues – medical, financial, tax-related, and even child, identity theft. This is just another valuable service we’re able to offer our policyholders.”

According to the 2012 Identity Fraud Industry Report by Javelin Strategy & Research, identity fraud experienced a 12.6 percent increase in incidence rate in 2011, resulting in 1.4 million more fraud victims in the U.S. than in 2010. Additionally, the mean cost to consumers has increased since 2009, and small business owners and financial institutions lost more than $5.4 billion due to fraud according to the 2011 report. With consumers and businesses paying a higher price each year for identity theft, data breaches and fraud, IDentity Theft 911 is committed to providing identity management support as well as consumer education and one-on-one service to victims of fraud from the initial call for help until the case is resolved.

“We have successfully continued to extend and expand our partnerships with insurance companies and other industry leaders over the years,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “We’re proud Frankenmuth Insurance is continuing their program and have recognized the differentiated value in expertise we offer. Personalized, high-quality, high-touch service sets us apart from our competitors and allows us to represent our clients’ brands in the best possible way.”

IDentity Theft 911 fraud specialists provide high-touch service to victims from the initial call through case resolution. Their expertise covers a range of issues, from proactive measures that provide protection to resolution in the case of true identity theft and account takeovers. The fraud specialists work one-on-one with victims and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until resolution is complete.

About IDentity Theft 911®
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 17.5 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 600,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About Frankenmuth Insurance
Frankenmuth Insurance is headquartered in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The property/casualty insurance company was founded in 1868 by Bavarian settlers and has grown into a regional carrier providing insurance protection for its policyholders in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

IDentity Theft 911 Works With MSO, Inc. to Develop Data Breach Expense Coverage Endorsements

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 02:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that it has worked with MSO Inc. (The Mutual Service Office, Inc.), a property/casualty rating service bureau to develop Data Breach Expense Coverage endorsements that are compatible with the MSO Commercial Lines programs. Two endorsement options will be available; one endorsement provides first-party property coverage while the other endorsement provides both first-party property and third-party liability coverage.

For carriers who adopt these endorsements, IDentity Theft 911 provides services that include evaluation and assessment of a data breach situation and assistance with regulators and media relations. Reimbursement for the insured’s expenses associated with the notification of a data breach, as well as the expenses of forensic investigations and the costs to consult an attorney is also offered. A data breach hotline for recipients of data breach notifications to call with issues, questions or concerns and credit or fraud monitoring services is another service provided by IDentity Theft 911.

The Ponemon Institute estimates that a data security breach in the U.S. costs an organization approximately $194 per compromised record, or $5.5 million on average per incident, according to its 2011 Cost of Data Breach Study. Notification expenses account for about 10 percent of the total cost of the data breach incident prompting the need for a real solution to managing the financial impact of a data breach.

Jan Scites, CEO and President of MSO Inc, says “We are delighted to work with the expert team at IDentity Theft 911. The company offers an important coverage option and related services to insurance companies and their customers.”

In addition to the coverage and services outlined above, the property and liability endorsement provides coverage for third party claims and potential litigation brought against the insured for a data breach. This endorsement also provides coverage for defense costs, fines and penalties.

“Thieves looking for security holes to access data or accidental loss through a misplaced thumb drive can lead to exposure of confidential information,” said Samuel Broomer, vice president, IDentity Theft 911. “Coverage alone is no longer enough protection. We’re pleased MSO, Inc. has chosen us to offer breach expertise to their member companies.”

For information on all of the programs and services offered by IDentity Theft 911, call Samuel Broomer, vice president, at 480-745-5239 or email him at sbroomer@idt911.com.

About MSO, Inc.
MSO is the oldest continuously operating property/casualty rating service bureau, providing product development and rating services to the insurance industry since 1944. MSO has long been an industry leader, offering programs that are comprehensive and easy to use. MSO’s plain language programs save companies money by clearly excluding coverage for claims that were never intended to be paid. Consistency of policy wording between the programs also makes claims handling easier. MSO will work with companies to customize the program to meet a company’s marketing and underwriting requirements. Visit us online at www.msonet.com.

For information on all of the programs and services offered by MSO, call Sue C. Quimby, CPCU at (800) 935-6900 ext. 111 or email her at MSO_Press@msonet.com.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

Sample Data Breach Expense And Liability Coverage Endorsement Available

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 05:00:00 -0700

AAIS is introducing an optional endorsement that addresses both first- and third‐party exposures arising out of data breach events. The endorsement is provided on a sample basis, suitable for use with the 06 12 edition Businessowners forms. Sample endorsement BP 4906 11 12 was developed in conjunction with IDentity Theft 911, which is available as a provider of the data breach services that are the subject of the first‐party coverage provided under this endorsement.

AAIS does not file sample endorsements. More information regarding the company action required to adopt endorsement BP 4906 11 12 is provided in this release.

BACKGROUND

Previous information about the introduction of a 'sample' endorsement, BP 4905 11 12, that provides the first‐party expense coverage in the event of a covered data breach is provided here. That endorsement, developed in conjunction with IDentity Theft 911, covers expenses incurred for services provided to the data breach victims, including pre‐notification consulting, notification to data breach subjects, and credit and fraud monitoring for identity theft victims, as well as expenses incurred to conduct forensic investigation and legal and regulatory research. Endorsement BP 4905 was developed to specifically facilitate the use of IDentity Theft 911 as a data breach service provider.

The previous announcement advised companies to file endorsement BP 4905 11 12 and any supporting rules and rating information they may develop with the applicable state insurance departments prior to using these materials.

As a continuation of this joint effort between AAIS and IDentity Theft 911, a second endorsement has been developed and is now available to AAIS affiliates that may wish to offer both first‐ and third‐party data breach coverages to their insureds. More information about IDentity Theft 911 and the new endorsement is provided in the sections that follow.

For more information about IDentity Theft 911 and the Data Breach Expense And Liability Coverage endorsement, contact Samuel Broomer, Vice President, at 1‐480‐745‐5239, or email at sbroomer@idt911.com.

SAMPLE DATA BREACH EXPENSE AND LIABILITY COVERAGE ENDORSEMENT

The Data Breach Expense And Liability Coverage endorsement provides first‐party expense coverage as well as coverage for third‐party liability, defense, and regulatory fines and penalties.The first‐party coverage provided under endorsement BP 4906 11 12 is identical to the coverage provided under endorsement BP 4905 11 12, as subsequently amended.

U nder BP 4906, coverage is expanded to also pay for third‐party legal claims and related defense costs, as well as fines and penalties that result from regulatory proceedings, arising out of a data breach event. Coverage D ‐ Data Breach Liability, Defense, And Regulatory Expense encompasses these coverages. Coverage D is triggered by a data breach event that gives rise to the legal claims and/or regulatory proceedings and that occurs within the policy period. The insured must report the event to the insurer as soon as practicably possible and the insured must have provided the notification recipient services, a subject under the first‐party coverage of the endorsement, through IDentity Theft 911 or an approved service provider.

Coverage D is subject to the following provisions. The various limits and deductible can be shown by entry on the endorsement schedule. (The schedule of BP 4906 accommodates two sets of limits and deductible: one set applies to the first‐party coverage and another set applies to the third‐party coverage.)
• a combined Coverage D annual aggregate limit;
• a liability annual aggregate limit;
• a defense costs annual aggregate limit; and
• a Coverage D deductible that applies on either an each legal claim basis or an each regulatory proceeding basis.

The endorsement is being provided on a sample basis, meaning that AAIS is not filing the endorsement with regulators on behalf of its affiliates. Furthermore, AAIS will not be developing rules or rating information in support of endorsement BP 4906.

Companies that intend to use this endorsement are required to finalize it by removing the explanatory notes in the heading and assigning a company‐specific form number, develop supporting rules and rating information, and take appropriate filing action in all jurisdictions in which the endorsement will be used.

COMPANY ACTION

The endorsement is being provided on a sample basis, meaning that AAIS has and will not file it with any of the state insurance departments on behalf of its affiliates.

Companies that intend to use this endorsement and any supporting rules and rating information must take the appropriate filing action. Refer to the Compliance Guide for the applicable filing guidelines.

When companies that have granted AAIS filing authority for Businessowners forms and adopted endorsement BP 0370 07 12, Data Compromise Expense Coverage, file endorsement BP 4906 11 12, they should indicate in their filing that BP 0370 07 12 is being replaced by BP 4906 11 12. Companies may choose to adopt either or both of endorsement BP 4905 11 12, as described in the preceding section, and endorsement BP 4906 11 12 as options to offer first‐party only and/or first‐ and third‐party coverages to their policyholders. In either case (whether a company adopts one or both endorsements), they must 'cease' the use of endorsement BP 0370 07 12.

About AAIS
AAIS is a national insurance advisory and statistical organization that develops standardized policy forms and rating information for over 25 programs of personal, commercial, farm, and inland marine insurance. Along with product innovation, AAIS is known for the expertise and accessibility of its staff, seasoned professionals who devote their time and attention to helping insurers adopt and maintain programs as easily as possible. More than 700 property/casualty insurers of all sizes use one or more programs from AAIS.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

AAIS Releases Sample Data Breach Endorsement Developed in Conjunction with IDentity Theft 911

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:50:00 -0700

Insurers now have access to a new sample endorsement they can use to provide “data breach” coverage to small- and mid-sized commercial accounts.

The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) recently released the sample endorsement under its Businessowners Program (BOP). AAIS is a national insurance advisory organization that develops policy forms and rating information used by more than 700 property/casualty insurers.

The endorsement was developed in conjunction with IDentity Theft 911 (IDT911), a leading provider of identity and data risk management, resolution, and education services. More than half of U.S. property/casualty carriers, including several member companies of AAIS, use IDT911 for identity theft loss control and recovery services.

The endorsement, which incorporates language proposed by IDT911, covers certain services provided to a commercial account in the event that personal information in its possession is lost, stolen, accidentally released, or accidentally published. Covered expenses include:
• Expert consultations;
• Forensic investigations;
• Legal and regulatory research;
• Notification to persons whose data may have been breached; and
• Credit and fraud monitoring for victims of identity theft.

Coverage under the endorsement is subject to an each-event deductible and an annual aggregate limit, plus separate sublimits for forensic investigations and legal/regulatory research expenses.

Coverage extends only to the types of losses identified in the endorsement. Non-described costs are explicitly excluded, as are costs arising from reckless disregard for information security, costs to identify or correct deficiencies in systems or procedures, and other types of expenses.

“This sample endorsement provides our BOP affiliates who use IDT911 with language directly referencing the services provided by IDT911,” says Joseph Harrington, AAIS director of corporate communications. “The coverage can allow insureds to respond quickly to a data breach, while protecting insurers from open-ended exposure to operational failures and financial losses.”

“Small businesses are as exposed as large companies to data breaches,” says Matt Cullina, CEO of IDentity Theft 911. “Small businesses may not be able to absorb the repercussions associated with a breach. Data breach expense coverage can save a small business’s reputation and bottom line in a time of crisis.”

As a sample endorsement, the latest AAIS data breach coverage option is not filed; companies seeking to use it will need to take filing action on their own.

For information on using the endorsement, contact Sam Broomer, IDT911 vice president of business development, at sbroomer@idt911.com or by calling 401-680-4050.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

IDentity Theft 911 Chief Information Security Officer to Participate in Panel Simulation of a 24 Hour Response to a Data Breach at 2012 Professional Liability Underwriting Society Conference

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 03:24:00 -0700

Panel to imitate real-life breach scenario, walk attendees through appropriate proactive and reactive steps

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that they will co-host a panel presentation at the upcoming 25th Annual International PLUS (Professional Liability Underwriting Society) Conference in Chicago from Nov. 7-9, 2012. Ondrej Krehel, IDentity Theft 911 Chief Information Security Officer, will join a prestigious line-up of panelists including representatives from Ponemon Institute, Coca-Cola, Chartis Insurance, and Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP, to present, "PLUS '24': The Clock is Ticking...It’s 24 Hours Until Notice!" on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 3:30 p.m. CST.

Reminiscent of the television series “24,” the panel will simulate an actual 24-hour response to a data breach incident by addressing hypothetical events that could impact any company. While the clock is ticking, the audience will gain a bird’s-eye view of this corporate pressure cooker via the rapidly evolving commentary of panel participants.

Explaining the unique presentation format, Krehel said, “On Jan. 25, 2012, the EU unveiled a proposed revision to its current privacy regime. The new rules include a requirement that firms notify data subjects 'without undue delay and, where feasible, no later than 24 hours after becoming aware of [a breach].' This presentation will take things to a whole new level by guiding the audience through a hypothetical event that could hit any company." He added, "At the end of this one-of-its-kind session, attendees will understand the timeline of a data breach, execution of incident management, including digital forensics; appreciate the resources necessary to address a short fuse breach; and learn the potential downsides of not adequately preparing or executing on a breach."

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

Mother of Cyberbullied Child Speaks Out, Advocates Plan to Address Bullying

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 01:00:00 -0700

SocialScout, a social networking monitoring service, provides downloadable cyberbully action plan to celebrate National Bullying Prevention Month

Marie Taylor, Arizona resident and mother to 11-year-old Jacob*, first detected her son was being bullied during winter school vacation. Taylor tracks her son’s email account and noticed messages asking about his unkind comments about a classmate. She was perplexed, but it soon became apparent what was happening: he was being cyberbullied.

“We discovered the perpetrator was using my son’s name and photo and impersonating him on Facebook,” said Taylor. “From midnight to morning, the person would post on other’s pages, saying some pretty harsh things. We first thought his account had been hacked, but it wasn’t long before we realized it was an acquaintance of his who had created a profile and acted on his behalf.”

According to Aftab.com, a cyberbully and privacy website, 85 percent of middle school aged children have been cyberbullied, but only 5 percent would tell their parents if they were cyberbullied. Perhaps most shocking is that 70 percent of cyberbullying comes from friends or acquaintances.

“As cyberbullying continues to grow, it becomes more difficult for children to avoid it,” said Betsy Landers, president, National Parent Teacher Association (PTA). “Our children can’t leave the classroom or playground to shut out cyberbullying; with technology, it follows them everywhere.”

This was the first of Taylor’s four children that used social networking sites, so the landscape was totally new. And, she didn’t know what action to take to monitor her children, or how to react to any problems on the networks.

“When I was in middle school, the bullying stopped once you left school,” said Taylor. “Back then we could rumor-monger, but the whole idea of someone copying a photo, creating a new profile, acting as somehow else – it’s just totally new to me. In fact, it was very scary figuring out how to appropriately respond to my son being cyberbullied.”

“Parents are digital immigrants when it comes to sites like Facebook and Twitter, so it’s not obvious what risks social media networks can present,” explained Matt Cullina, CEO of IDentity Theft 911. “We strongly advocate that before parents permit their child to sign-up for a social networking site, they educate themselves on the dangers, and provide some ground rules before establishing an account – like permission to monitor accounts and activities.”

SocialScout, a parental intelligence tool for parents to monitor their child’s social networking habits, is a key product offering by IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management resolution and education services. Currently offered to PTA members through a partnership with the National PTA, SocialScout offers a quick and easy way to analyze a child’s social networking and mobile phone activity while safeguarding their privacy and reputation on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

"My kids say I'm not a helicopter mom. I'm more of a B-52 bomber mom. But even so, I didn't notice there was a problem right away,” said Taylor. “A monitoring tool like SocialScout could have helped address my son’s cyberbullying issue before it got out of hand.”

As a leader in social networking monitoring, SocialScout has crafted a resource for parents to guide them through steps to take to address cyberbullying when their child is the victim – or the perpetrator. The graphic is designed to provide a comprehensive look at why and how children are cyberbullied, and it details important statistics about common parent fears for social media. The SocialScout Cyberbully Response Plan is available for download at http://tinyurl.com/CBResponsePlan.

“Monitoring your child on a social network is no different than ensuring they are getting to school safely or ensuring they have healthy meals – it’s modern form of parental involvement,” said Landers. “Parents who are monitoring their children’s activities are not crossing the line into invasion of privacy; they are cyber-savvy and involved, not to mention potentially avoiding a tragedy down the road.”

SocialScout gives parents an easy-to-read report about with whom the child is communicating, and what they and their contacts are posting and sharing either online or through their mobile phone. It tracks some of the most popular networks, including Facebook and Twitter, and is easily accessible through any smartphone. This bird’s-eye view into your child’s digital world includes details about their contacts and the content of their text messages and online posts and messages. Activity Reports can be sent by email in real-time, or on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Additionally, SocialScout uses GPS-tracking to conveniently locate your child, ensuring parents know their whereabouts with the push of a button.

SocialScout is available to national and local insurance carriers, financial institutions and employers, offering peace of mind to parents wisely concerned about the online threats targeting their children. For more information, visit mysocialscout.net.

*Name has been changed to protect the victim.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

Mutual of Enumclaw Renews Identity Management Services to Policyholders through IDentity Theft 911 Partnership

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:00:00 -0700

With successful mutual insurance track-record, IDentity Theft 911 continues partnership to offer identity services to Mutual of Enumclaw members

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, and Mutual of Enumclaw continue a six year partnership to offer identity management services to customers. Mutual of Enumclaw customers enjoy IDentity Theft 911’s LifeStages® Identity Management services for all homeowner policyholders, and their family members, throughout the times in life when they are most vulnerable to identity theft.

Similar to the IDentity Theft 911 white glove service philosophy, mutual insurance companies are largely focused on the member policyholder experience and provide high quality customer-centric service. Serving as trusted advisor to more than 100 mutual insurance companies in the United States, IDentity Theft 911 has a unique understanding of mutual insurance members’ needs. The company is the trusted advisor to seven of 10 of the top insurance companies and serves 17.5 million households across the country. Poised to offer the best service to members, the choice to continue a long-standing relationship was a simple one for Mutual of Enumclaw.

“IDentity Theft 911 has a solid reputation in serving mutual insurance companies’ unique needs,” said Eric Nelson, president and CEO, Mutual of Enumclaw. “We are continuing with the company because of its unrivaled customer service, knowledge of the insurance landscape, and its ability to cover all types of issues – medical, financial, tax-related, and even child, identity theft. This is just another valuable service we’re able to offer our policyholders.”

According to the 2012 Identity Fraud Industry Report by Javelin Strategy & Research, identity fraud experienced a 12.6 percent increase in incidence rate in 2011, resulting in 1.4 million more fraud victims in the U.S. than in 2010. Additionally, the mean cost to consumers has increased since 2009, and small business owners and financial institutions lost more than $5.4 billion due to fraud according to the 2011 report. With consumers and businesses paying a higher price each year for identity theft, data breaches and fraud, IDentity Theft 911 is committed to providing identity management support as well as consumer education and one-on-one service to victims of fraud from the initial call for help until the case is resolved.

“We have successfully continued to extend and expand our partnerships with mutual insurance companies and other industry leaders over the years,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “We’re delighted Mutual of Enumclaw is continuing their program and have recognized the differentiated value in expertise we offer. Personalized, high-quality, high-touch service sets us apart from our competitors and allows us to represent our clients’ brands in the best possible way.”

About Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance Company
Mutual of Enumclaw offers personal, commercial and farm insurance through a network of independent agents in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah. Our Mission Statement is “Providing financial security by keeping our promises.”

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

IDentity Theft 911 Expert Discusses Small Business Data Breaches at Society of Insurance Research 2012 Annual Conference

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:40:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that they will host a presentation at the upcoming 42nd Annual Conference of the Society of Insurance Research (SIR) in Pittsburgh from October 14 to October 17, 2012. Ed Goodman, IDentity Theft 911 Chief Privacy Officer, will speak on "Small Company, Big Data” on Tuesday, October 16 at 4:00 p.m. EST.

“Big businesses are no longer the sole target for cyber attacks as the focus shifts from corporate America to Main Street, where smaller businesses handling credit card transactions and confidential information are often more vulnerable and unprepared," said IDentity Theft 911 CEO Matt Cullina. "In response to this critical need, we’re excited to present our expertise on small business data management for conference attendees.”

According to "The Human Factor in Data Protection", by Ponemon Institute, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) have a higher risk of their employees mismanaging data than enterprises. Because of this, SMBs experience a higher rate of data breaches than larger enterprises. For generations, new technologies from desktop computing to the internet to mobile phones have held the promise of leveling the playing field between small and large companies. However, only recently has the potential for small business to act like a big business become a reality due to the exponential growth and development in resources like smart phone technologies, “Cloud” based solutions, access to outside data, and more advanced/cost effective data analytics. This increased access, storage, and manipulation of data as it relates to consumers, provides access to a more targeted customer base and greater market opportunities. But, it also comes with big downsides.

"Commercial carriers must understand the data risks of their small business policyholders," said IDentity Theft 911's Goodman. "As a provider of data management services to more than 600,000 businesses in North America, we’re able to use the principles we applied to real-life SMB breach scenarios to educate SIR conference attendees. The session will explore the myriad of data privacy issues that have arisen in the context of small business, the insurance industry’s product responses, and new areas of increased concern for small businesses, brokers/agents, and the insurers that serve them.”

IDentity theft 911's Chief Privacy Officer, Goodman has more than a decade of experience in privacy law, fraud and identity management. A member Arizona state bar and a past section chairman of the bar’s Internet, E-Commerce & Technology Law Section, he is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) covering designations for both the U.S. and Canada. A graduate of the University of California at Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts in English and the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with a dual concentration in Intellectual Property and International law, he is a member of both the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP).

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

IDentity Theft 911 to Offer Humana Members Identity Management and Credit Monitoring Services

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 01:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management resolution and education services, today announced that Humana Inc., one of the nation’s leading health and well-being companies, has chosen the company to offer identity management and credit monitoring services to its members.

Humana members can now benefit from IDentity Theft 911 LifeStages® Identity Management and Fraud and Credit Monitoring services including 24/7 access to a fraud specialist for personalized support. Members have the option to purchase custom packages for identity theft monitoring, single or triple credit bureau monitoring including credit scores, and internet monitoring. IDentity Theft 911 Fraud and Credit Monitoring scours billions of identity records such as credit reports and scores and noncredit files, like court records and internet sites, for possible signs of fraud.

“Thieves have shifted their focus from stealing identities for pure financial gain, to committing identity theft to access bank accounts, open utility accounts, and commit tax fraud,” said Matt Cullina, Chief Executive Officer of IDentity Theft 911. “We’ve seen a spike in medical identity theft cases and our fraud team has seen it all – everything from a grandmother being billed for a pregnancy test to a patient billed for surgery in a state she has never visited. We’re proud that Humana has selected our company to offer its customers identity management education and reputation resolution services to keep their identities safe throughout all aspects of their lives.”

IDentity Theft 911 fraud specialists provide personalized service to victims from the initial call through case resolution. Their expertise covers a range of issues, from proactive measures that provide protection to resolution in the case of identity theft and account takeovers. Dedicated fraud specialists work one-on-one with victims and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information please visit www.Humana.com/LifeStyleDiscounts.

About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health-care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. By leveraging the strengths of its core businesses, Humana believes it can better explore opportunities for existing and emerging adjacencies in health care that can further enhance wellness opportunities for the millions of people across the nation with whom the company has relationships.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

• Annual reports to stockholders
• Securities and Exchange Commission filings
• Most recent investor conference presentations
• Quarterly earnings news releases
• Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
• Calendar of events (including upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
• Corporate Governance information

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

More than 45 Million Protected: IDentity Theft 911 has the LOCK on Identity Theft Consumer Services

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 05:46:00 -0700

Fifteen percent of U.S. households already receiving identity theft coverage from IDentity Theft 911

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management resolution and education services, proudly announced today that it now provides coverage for more than 17.5 million households (more than 45 million individuals) and more than 600,000 businesses in the United States and Canada. As Wall Street buzzes around the topic of identity theft and the growing need for consumer protection, this marks an important milestone for the company.

“Identity theft is a life-altering crime,” said Adam Levin, Chairman of IDentity Theft 911 and former Director of Consumer Affairs for New Jersey. “It is no longer a question of if, but rather when, each of us will fall victim to some form of identity theft. IDentity Theft 911 was founded with the mission to help consumers minimize their risk of exposure, offering them monitoring products as well as educating them as to the procedures necessary to help them better detect whether they have been compromised, and ultimately be their damage control program.”

With a nearly 100 percent satisfaction rating from consumers and a solid track record of success with no resulting litigation or regulatory action, the company works to educate consumers and businesses first and then works on their behalf to manage and restore their name when fraud has been determined. Its LifeStages® Identity Management services span the full spectrum of possible fraud threats, from financial and credit cards to medical, criminal, tax, child and synthetic identity theft.

While the name IDentity Theft 911 might not be widely recognized by consumers, the company is well-known in the business sector, providing its services to consumers through seven of the top 10 insurance carriers, including 50 percent of the market that sells auto and home insurance, major credit unions, banks and numerous Fortune 500 companies.

“Some companies throw millions of dollars in marketing to attract consumers to high-priced offerings that leave them questioning the value and validity of the products,” stated Matt Cullina, CEO of IDentity Theft 911. “With our broad reach, chances are many consumers are already covered by our services through a brand they know and trust in their daily lives whether it’s their auto or home insurance company or bank.”

“These numbers are significant,” Levin continued. “Identity theft continues to escalate as a concern and everyone should be aware of it. If you don’t have help and coverage: get it. If you’re thinking about buying coverage, before you spend a penny pick up your phone and contact your insurance company, your credit union, your employer, or your health care provider and ask them if you have coverage. There are about 45 million of you out there that already have consumer protection services from IDentity Theft 911, and if you don’t, ask them why not.”

About IDentity Theft 911

Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 17.5 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 600,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911 personnel have more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Allstate, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

IDentity Theft 911 Announces Partnership with NAMIC Insurance Company to Offer Data Risk Services to NAMIC Member Insurance Companies

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:00:00 -0700

Partnership announced at National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies 117th annual convention

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) 117th annual convention its partnership with NAMIC Insurance Company (NAMICO), a professional liability insurer serving the needs of more mutual property and casualty companies than any organization in the United States. Through this partnership, NAMICO will offer DataRiskStages™ services to NAMIC member insurance companies.

DataRiskStages™ features access to IDentity Theft 911’s team of breach consulting experts and 24/7 access to a breach preparedness website and eLearning Training Platform. In addition, the firm acts fast to help avert a crisis when a breach takes place. Its experts will assess the severity and damage of the breach, advise on regulatory and consumer notification, and create action plans for responding quickly and efficiently. IDentity Theft 911 also will draft a customer notification letter and, for larger breaches, help design and implement a password protected-website to communicate with those who are affected. Services also include computer forensics analysis, incident damage reviews, and digital evidence preservation.

“NAMICO is continually looking for ways to enhance the value of the insurance products we offer to our members and agents and their clients,” said NAMICO's President and CEO Tim Sullivan. “Teaming with IDentity Theft 911 allows us to deliver critical data breach and identity resolution services. Policyholders now have access to fraud specialists and, in the case of a data breach, assistance in responding to the situation, as well as help with facilitating claims processing.”

Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) have a higher risk of their employees mismanaging data than enterprises, according to "The Human Factor in Data Protection," by Ponemon Institute. Because of this, SMBs experience a higher rate of data breaches than larger enterprises. Recognizing the need for businesses to be protected, NAMICO is offering DataRiskStages services, including proactive, compliance, privacy and forensics consulting, as well as reactive services for Insurance Company Directors & Officers Liability and for Insurance Agents Errors & Omissions Insurance.

“We’re thrilled to announce this partnership with NAMICO to provide their policyholders with comprehensive data risk management services,” said Sam Broomer, IDentity Theft 911's Vice President of Business Development. “Businesses face a host of inconveniences and potential legal penalties when they experience a breach. NAMICO policyholders can now rest assured that any data risk occurrence will be properly managed and resolved.”

IDentity Theft 911 will be on-hand at booth #407 to share the latest data risk management trends and reveal its many comprehensive identity and data risk solutions and services.

For more information on how commercial insurers can cut their SMB policyholders' data risk, join IDentity Theft 911 and NAMICO for their joint online webinar, "Data Breaches: Big Risk for Small Companies" on Thursday, October 4th, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Sign up at tinyurl.com/IDT911webinar.

About IDentity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation's premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country's largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911's management team has more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Allstate, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit http://www.idt911.com/, https://www.facebook.com/idt911 and http://twitter.com/idt911.

About NAMIC Insurance Company (NAMICO)
NAMIC Insurance Company, Inc., (NAMICO), incorporated November 21, 1986, and commenced operations July 1, 1987, in response insurance availability and affordability during the liability crisis of the mid 1980’s, is a professional liability insurer serving the needs of more mutual property and casualty companies than any organization in the United States. Rated “A” (Excellent) by the A.M. Best Company, NAMICO provides professional liability insurance exclusively to the members of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) and their agents. For more than 25 years, NAMICO’s underwriting and pricing philosophy has reflected the unique exposures of mutual insurance companies. NAMICO only insures members of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and related entities. For more information, please visit http://namicinsurance.com/ and http://www.namic.org/.

For more information, please contact IDentity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Santos at media@idt911.com.

GuideOne Insurance Selects IDentity Theft 911 to Offer Data Breach Services and Protection to Niche Markets

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:30:00 -0700

GuideOne Insurance today announced that it has selected IDentity Theft 911 to offer DataRiskStages™ services to its higher education institution, K-12 schools and senior living community (SLC) policyholders who purchase the company’s new cyber liability coverage. IDentity Theft 911 will work with GuideOne Insurance to provide proactive and reactive support to customers purchasing cyber liability coverage, including guidance in creating a breach response strategy, as well as access to IDentity Theft 911’s team of data breach experts.

“Data breaches have become the norm in our ever-changing digital world,” said Lee Pallardy, vice president of commercial lines, GuideOne Insurance. “IDentity Theft 911 understands the risks niche markets face, as well as the potential impact they can have to their business and community. We are excited to provide a cyber liability coverage option to our customers and to work with IDentity Theft 911 to protect them from cyber breach threats occurring in the first place.”

Since 2003, IDentity Theft 911 has provided identity management solutions to insurance carriers, banks and credit unions, employers, and individuals. The company’s LifeStages™ Identity Management services address identity theft and fraud risks based on specific vulnerabilities. IDentity Theft 911’s DataRiskStages™ division helps businesses avoid, prepare and respond to data breaches.

“Any organization that collects personal information is at-risk for exposing sensitive data,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “Thieves have shifted their focus from large companies to smaller institutions because they typically can fly under the radar. Through this relationship, GuideOne is able to protect their customers by providing the tools to help avoid a breach and swiftly recover should one occur.”

GuideOne Insurance will provide IDentity Theft 911 expertise to its customers purchasing cyber liability coverage, which helps minimize the chance of a breach and better safeguard personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI) for students, SLC residents and employees. A breach preparedness website includes legal requirements by state, a how-to guide for creating a data breach incident response plan, and guidance on steps to take in the event of a breach. In the event of a breach, IDentity Theft 911’s team of experts can help assess whether a breach has occurred, determine its severity, and consult on next steps to address the situation.

To learn more about GuideOne’s higher education institution, K-12 schools or SLC policy options, which can now include cyber liability coverage, visit guideone.com and click on the appropriate coverage tab or “Find an Agent.”

About IDentity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911 personnel have more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, All State, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About GuideOne Insurance
Founded in 1947 and headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, GuideOne Insurance is one of the nation's largest church insurers, with about 43,000 church policyholders. GuideOne also insures private schools and colleges, as well as senior living communities. In 1999, the company created the GuideOne Center for Risk Management® in order to help churches and faith-based organizations safeguard their ministries. This effort was expanded in 2008 with the launch of SafeChurch®, the most comprehensive church risk management resource available. GuideOne's personal lines products include auto and homeowners insurance. GuideOne is licensed to do business in all 50 states and markets its products and services through nearly 1,600 independent and career agents. The company carries an A "Excellent" rating from A.M. Best and was named to the 2011 and 2012 Ward’s Top 50 Performing Insurance Companies.

IDT911 Expands Operations into Canada to Offer Data Management and Privacy Breach Services

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:00:00 -0700

Identity and data risk management service provider IDT911 to expand operations and provide data management solutions throughout Canada

Canadian businesses are encountering increased risks of privacy breaches, both from deliberate, targeted attacks as well as employee and vendor errors and negligence. The range of data considered to be sensitive and private is growing, and includes information related to financial accounts and transactions, health care histories, asset valuations and dispositions, and personal data such as family counseling records and even e-mails.

To help companies address these concerns and mitigate their risks, IDT911, North America’s premier identity management and data privacy risk management services provider, is pleased to announce its expansion into the Canadian marketplace. IDT911’s products, which include data security education and training, proactive exposure mitigation tools, breach response services, and identity management services for consumers, will now be available to clients throughout Canada. The company will also offer its expertise to insurance carriers to create privacy products that fit their policyholders’ specific needs.

“We understand that privacy and data protection services aren’t one size fits all,” said Matt Cullina, chief executive officer for IDT911. “We’re demonstrating our commitment to Canadian companies by drawing on our expertise to develop solutions uniquely suited to their business and consumer base.”

The deep expertise IDT911 has in the data protection sector will be provided to small, midsized and large Canadian businesses as part of insurance policies offered through several carriers. Consumers place a tremendous amount of trust in Canadian businesses. Protection with IDT911 strengthens that bond between companies and their consumers. IDT911 also brings an accredited training methodology that ensures brokers have the tools and support they need to promote cyber security products and services to their clients.

Most recently, IDT911 has partnered with Economical Insurance® and Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company to provide privacy breach resources to Canadian businesses.

"Small to midsized companies are increasingly at risk for privacy breach. Economical is pleased to partner with such an experienced and reputable firm as IDT911 to offer an affordable and proactive solution for these customers that is a first of its kind in Canada," said Dianna Fioravanti, vice-president of commercial insurance at Economical Insurance. "Our insurance solution not only protects customers when a breach occurs, but offers businesses access to information and experts at IDT911 to avoid a breach in the first place. This is critical for businesses to protect their most important asset—their reputation."

“Companies that have breach education and response services through a data risk management leader such as IDT911 are better able to retain that trust should data be exposed,” said Richard Grant, senior vice president of corporate risk at Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company. “As Trisura focuses on enterprise-level companies, we believe that offering this top-tier protection to our policyholders helps them not only safeguard sensitive information, but provides them with the advantage of an experienced breach support team with IDT911.”

To learn more about IDT911 data management and privacy breach services, contact 888-682-5911.

Broome Cooperative Insurance Company Offers Identity Protection and Identity Theft Resolution Services to Policyholders

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 02:00:00 -0700

Broome Cooperative Insurance Company has partnered with IDentity Theft 911 to provide identity theft protection, management and resolution services as coverage enhancements to policyholders. This new program provides IDentity Theft 911 LifeStages® Identity Management services to policyholders at no charge, including 24/7 dedicated access to a fraud specialist for personalized support with proactive assistance and identity theft recovery services.

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that Broome Cooperative Insurance Company has partnered to offer identity protection and identity theft resolution services to policyholders at no charge. Broome Cooperative Insurance Company policyholders now enjoy IDentity Theft 911’s LifeStages® Identity Management services throughout the times in life when they are most vulnerable to identity theft.

According to the 2011 FTC Consumer Sentinel report, identity theft topped the list of consumer complaints for the 11th consecutive year, with more than 1.8 million complaints. Recognizing this trend, Broome Cooperative Insurance Company policyholders can rest assured knowing their insurance company can help resolve crises ranging from fire loss to property damage, personal law suits and also identity theft.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with IDentity Theft 911 to offer identity management services to our policyholders,” said Siobhan Davey, Vice President of Broome Cooperative Insurance Company. “Our goal is to help our policyholders avoid all losses and they can now take comfort in knowing they have identity management coverage at their fingertips.”

“As identity theft grows in scale and complexity, victims are often alone in trying to repair their reputation and identity,” said Matt Cullina, CEO of IDentity Theft 911. “We’re excited Broome Cooperative has selected us to provide its policyholders with white-glove identity management and resolution services.”

About IDentity Theft 911

Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911 personnel have more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, All State, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About Broome Cooperative Insurance Company

Broome Cooperative was incorporated in New York in January of 1887. Today the company, located in the Vestal, New York, writes a wide variety of Personal and Business Insurance utilizing our extensive network of Independent Insurance Agents. We specialize in individual account underwriting. Our size and experienced underwriters enable us to work closely with our Agents and Insured Customers to properly insure each risk. We focus on providing customer service; from providing quotes within 24 hours to ensuring that you can speak to a Company Employee during business hours. We are a local company, so we understand the many different insurance needs across the state. We will work with you to properly insure each eligible risk. For more information about Broome Cooperative visit our website at www.bcicny.com.

Congressman Langevin Congratulates Matt Cullina as an Angel in Adoption™ To Be Recognized at National Event in Washington, D.C.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:00:00 -0700

Congressman Langevin (D-RI) congratulates Matt Cullina, dedicated foster parent and IDentity Theft 911 chief executive officer, as a 2012 Angels in AdoptionTM for his outstanding advocacy of foster care issues. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which orchestrates the Angels in Adoption™ program, will honor Mr. Cullina along with more than 140 Angels, at an awards ceremony on September 11 and gala event in Washington, D.C., on September 12.

Cullina, along with wife Virginia, adopted three daughters and is being honored for his work in leading a charge against identity theft plaguing foster youth. He provided counsel to Congressman Langevin while he was drafting a bill aimed at remedying identity theft issues for foster youth. A thrilling moment for Cullina, the bill was signed into law in October 2011.

“It was an honor to have the opportunity to nominate Matt as an Angel in Adoption and recognize his extraordinary devotion to giving children in extremely challenging circumstances a fair chance to reach their potential,” said Langevin. “I am proud to have had the chance to work with him on a small part of his efforts that have made a tremendous, tangible difference in the lives of foster youth in Rhode Island and nationwide.”

Cullina is a board member of national non-profit First Star, an advocacy organization for abused and neglected children. In collaboration with several organizations, Cullina helped spearhead the development of an innovative academy at the University of Rhode Island to encourage foster youth to attend college. In this academy, Cullina led a group of fraud specialists in delivering high-impact content to foster youth to help them navigate the world of identity management and credit. For this work, he was named winner of the Communitas Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility.

Cullina is currently chief executive officer of IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services and has 15 years of insurance industry management, claims and product development experience. Matt lead MetLife Auto & Home Insurance Co.’s personal product development initiatives, managed complex claims litigation and served as a corporate witness for Travelers Insurance and the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co.

The Angels in Adoption™ program is CCAI’s signature public awareness campaign and provides an opportunity for all members of the U.S. Congress to honor the good work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad.

“The Angels in Adoption™ program is unlike any other program in the Nation’s Capital. Because of it, over 1800 “Angels” have come to share with Washington their adoption experience and left with a renewed excitement of all that adoption makes possible,” said Kathleen Strottman. “I learned one simple lesson from my time on the hill, knowledge is power. Angels in Adoption is meant to give Members of Congress the knowledge they need to use the power they have toward making the dream of a family a reality for every child.”

In addition to the more than 140 Angels from around the country, several “National Angels” will also be recognized at the ceremony and gala for their dedication and commitment nationally and internationally to child welfare on a grand scale. This year’s National Angels in Adoption™ are actress Katherine Heigl, singer/songwriter Josh Kelley and PEOPLE Magazine. Former National Angels include First Lady Laura Bush, Patti LaBelle, Jane Seymour, Muhammad Ali, the late Dave Thomas, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bruce Willis, Alonzo Mourning, Rhea Perlman and Kristin Chenoweth.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe, and loving homes through adoption. CCAI’s goal is the elimination of the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right of a family.

CCAI was created in 2001 by the active co-chairs of the bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) to more effectively raise Congressional and public awareness about the issue of adoption.

The Angels in Adoption™ program was established in 1999 as a Congressional press conference to honor outstanding individuals. Since then, the program has developed into a yearlong public awareness campaign culminating in an extraordinary awards Gala and celebration in Washington, D.C.

CCAI does not receive any government funding and they rely on the generous support of foundations, corporations, and individuals to accomplish their mission. For more information visit www.ccainstitute.org/ and www.angelsinadoption.org.

About IDentity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911 personnel have more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, All State, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service and the Parent Tested, Parent Approved award for social networking monitoring tool SocialScout. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

United Fire Group Expands Complimentary Commercial Breach Services for Business Policyholders

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 03:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that longstanding partner United Fire Group has expanded their offering of IDentity Theft 911’s DataRiskStages™ services to select business policyholders at no charge.

According to "The Human Factor in Data Protection," by Ponemon Institute, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) have a higher risk of their employees mismanaging data than enterprises. Because of this, SMBs experience a higher rate of data breaches than larger enterprises. Recognizing the need for businesses to be protected, United Fire Group is providing DataRiskStages™ mitigation coverage to business clients as a complimentary service.

DataRiskStages™ provides proactive and reactive data breach services to clients, including access to IDentity Theft 911’s team of breach consulting experts and 24/7 access to a breach preparedness website. In addition, the firm acts fast to help avert a crisis when a breach takes place. Its experts will assess the severity and damage of the breach, advise on regulatory and consumer notification, and create action plans for responding quickly and efficiently.

Identify Theft 911 will also draft a customer-notification letter and, for larger breaches, help design and implement a password protected-website to communicate with those who are affected. Services also include computer forensics analysis, incident damage reviews and digital-evidence preservation.

“United Fire Group is continually looking for ways to enhance the value of the insurance products we offer to our agents and their clients,” said United Fire Group Vice President and Corporate Underwriting Manager Al Sorensen. “Teaming with IDentity Theft 911 allows our policyholders to take advantage of the data breach and identity-resolution services. These services include one-on-one access to a fraud specialist and, in the case of a data breach, assistance in responding to the situation.”

In the event of a data breach, small businesses can rely on IDentity Theft 911’s LifeStages™ Identity Management services to provide high-touch identity resolution assistance to victims. Fraud specialists cover a range of issues, from proactive measures to take throughout a person’s life to true identity theft and account takeovers. The fraud specialists work one-on-one with victims and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until resolution is complete.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with United Fire Group to provide their policyholders with comprehensive data risk management services,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “Businesses face a host of inconveniences and potential legal penalties when they experience a breach. United Fire Group policyholders can now rest assured that any data risk occurrence will be properly managed and resolved.”

To see if you qualify for complimentary data breach services, please refer to your designated agent or broker for more information.

About IDentity Theft 911®

Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation's premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country's largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911's management team has more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Allstate, FM Global, and other leading institutions. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

Trisura to Help Vulnerable Canadian Businesses Manage Privacy Breaches

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 03:00:00 -0700

Trisura to provide privacy breach resources and services to help its insureds avoid privacy breaches and mitigate damages should they occur.

TORONTO, ON. – August 22, 2012

In today’s high-tech workplace, Canadian businesses are facing ever-increasing risks and costs of privacy breaches that can expose sensitive customer information. The risks are everywhere—arising both from inside and outside of businesses—particularly at organizations that hold a lot of personal customer data like insurance brokers, personal counsellors, property managers and financial institutions.

In response to the growing need for Canadian businesses to defend against the risks and costs of privacy breaches, Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company has partnered with IDT911, North America’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, to deliver proactive and reactive privacy breach services and tools. These services, which include education and training, are perfect for those companies that have a particularly high-risk rate.

Many businesses aren’t properly protecting their customers’ digitally stored information, according to a survey conducted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC). Nearly 50 percent of companies that store personal information on portable devices like laptops, tablets and memory devices don’t encrypt the data—even though these devices are prone to being misplaced, lost or stolen.

"Having appropriate breach preparation and response services can help Canadian businesses safeguard reputation, credibility and trust that could be damaged by exposure of consumer data or could lead to business failure," said Richard Grant, Trisura’s senior vice president of corporate risk. "In response to this critical need, we're providing policyholders with privacy breach tools, resources and services."

The privacy breach services provided to Trisura’s insureds include:

• An online breach website featuring exclusive resources to help business owners recognize data risks, as well as Canadian and provincial compliance laws and their notification requirements
• Access to IDT911's online training tools to help businesses better understand privacy risks and manage their data liabilities
• On-call professional assistance to help handle a breach crisis
• Response services to assist breach victims and help them avoid identity theft and fraud
• Plus, our insured’s employees will have access to identity management services to help protect against and recover from identity theft and fraud

"With our support, Trisura provides vulnerable Canadian companies with 24/7 access to privacy and regulatory requirements, steps to take if a breach happens, as well as our best-of-class e-learning platform and recovery assistance,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDT911. “We’re thrilled Trisura has chosen us as their partner in helping their business customers safeguard their private information and their reputation in the community.”

To learn more about Trisura’s privacy breach services, please contact your insurance broker.

About IDT911
Founded in 2003, IDT911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across North America and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the North America’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 200,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDT911’s management team has more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Allstate, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service. For more information, please visit www.idt911.ca,www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company
Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company is a Canadian Property and Casualty insurance company, incorporated under the Insurance Companies Act (Canada). Trisura provides innovative solutions and expertise through a select broker network, specializing in Corporate Risk, Surety and related products. As a Canadian owned and operated company, Trisura is uniquely positioned to satisfy mid-market risks in Contract Surety, Commercial Surety, Directors' and Officers' Liability, Fidelity, and Professional Liability including Media Liability. Made in Canada solutions, exceptional service, and expertise from experienced, disciplined underwriters—in combination, these attributes provide Trisura with an innovative edge in the Canadian marketplace. For more information, please visit http://www.trisura.com.

For further information, contact: Richard Grant, Trisura, Tel: 416-607-2128, richard.grant@trisura.com or Kelly Colgan, IDT911, Tel: 401-680-4025, media@idt911.com

SocialScout Earns Coveted Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) Seal of Approval

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:00:00 -0700

Social networking monitoring tool allows parents to easily monitor their child’s social network and mobile activity.

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, is thrilled to announce that social network monitoring tool SocialScout has been awarded the PTPA Winner’s Seal of Approval. PTPA Media has North America’s largest volunteer parent testing community, with more than 40,000 parents and was rated the Most Trusted Seal by 22,000 parents.

Consumers looking for high-quality products and services can rest assured when they see the PTPA Winner’s Seal; it’s evidence of a products excellence from having been evaluated by unbiased parent testers.

SocialScout, currently sold exclusively in partnership with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), was among many entries from across North America competing to earn the PTPA™ Seal. Independent parent volunteers evaluate products in their own homes to ensure that PTPA winners are chosen based on merit and consumer experience – not on commercial considerations. As a result, the PTPA Media™ Seal has quickly gained recognition as an international leader in certifying consumer products for quality, effectiveness and value. Their CEO and founder, Sharon Vinderine has appeared on nearly 50 morning shows as a reliable source for the latest and greatest in family products. The media and parents alike trust the collective opinion that PTPA Media represents.

Being honored with the influential Seal of Approval from PTPA Media Inc. is a huge achievement for a product geared to families, children or parents. “We undoubtedly know the value SocialScout brings to parents concerned with their child’s use of social networking and mobile devices through our own analysis,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “But it’s a great honor to affirm SocialScout’s innovative capabilities with the PTPA Seal of Approval.”

SocialScout offers a quick and easy way to analyze your child’s social networking and mobile phone activity while safeguarding their privacy and reputation on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Many parents ‘friend’ their children on various social network sites in an effort to keep track of their child’s online activities. Yet private messages, private profiles, and mobile phone use can keep much of the conversation out of parental sight. SocialScout bridges this technology gap and makes it easy for parents to know whether their child is making good online and mobile choices, while eliminating hours of time secretly searching their child’s web history, social media sites, and phone records.

SocialScout gives parents an easy-to-read report on whom the child is communicating with, and what they and their contacts are posting and sharing online. It tracks some of the most popular networks, including Facebook and Twitter, and is easily accessible through any Google Android or Blackberry mobile phone. This bird’s-eye view into your child’s digital world includes details about their contacts and the content of their text messages and online posts and messages. Activity Reports can be sent by email on a real-time, daily, weekly or monthly basis. Additionally, SocialScout uses GPS-tracking to conveniently locate your child, ensuring parents know their whereabouts with the push of a button.

“At PTPA Media, we are proud to play a role in certifying innovative products that families can trust,” says Sharon Vinderine, CEO and founder of PTPA Media Inc. “When consumers search for our Seal of Approval on product packaging and web sites, they are essentially searching for validation from their peers. Their peers will have objectively tested and approved these products based on their performance in a real life environment. That type of resource for families is priceless.”

As a business-to-business company, IDentity Theft 911 provides SocialScout to employers, credit unions, financial institutions, and insurance companies to launch loyalty and revenue generation programs. To learn more about how to offer these services in your organization, visit MySocialScout.net.

About IDentity Theft 911®

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

IDentity Theft 911 Hires Online Marketing and Human Resources Veteran Brian Eastwood as Vice President of Marketing

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 03:00:00 -0700

Brian Eastwood joins the IDentity Theft 911's executive leadership talent base. With 20 years of experience in communications, branding and human resources, Eastwood will lead the IDentity Theft 911 marketing team.

IDentity Theft 911, a leader in identity management and data risk management services, today announced that Brian Eastwood has joined the company as vice president of marketing. Eastwood brings nearly 20 years of proven expertise in building integrated communication strategies, developing successful employer services campaigns, and growing creative marketing teams.

Most recently, Eastwood served as vice president of creative services, advertising and communications at Jobing, Inc., a three-time INC 500 company and a leader in employment marketing and branding. Jobing is the provider of both Jobing.com, the leading locally-focused employment website, and Recruiting.com, a SaaS suite of technology applications for web, mobile, social media, search and video recruiting. There, Eastwood led a team of professionals and was responsible for all national advertising, online marketing, branding, public relations, media, and partnership activities, including both internal and external communication strategies and plans that substantially increased revenue growth and client satisfaction.

“In a continuously changing world of privacy, security and data risks, our company has achieved successful growth. The addition of Brian Eastwood will help us deliver even more value to our insurance, credit union, and employer client base by helping them better market the service to their customers,” said IDentity Theft 911 CEO Matt Cullina.

Eastwood will lead IDentity Theft 911's team of marketing and communications experts that provide the company’s internal client and product development professionals and external partners and clients with focused assistance in advertising, promotion, public relations and website development and support.

"I am thrilled to be leading IDentity Theft 911's highly talented and creative marketing team," said Eastwood. "Having supported a wide variety of B2B and B2C products and services, I'm looking forward to helping IDentity Theft 911, a recognized industry innovator, continue to develop, maintain and leverage its strategic marketing efforts."

Eastwood earned a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University, a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and an Executive Scholar's Certificate in Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a past communication's chair for the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management State Council; founder and past president of the Employment Management Association of Greater Phoenix; and a past award recipient of the Judith Krebs PHR Memorial Volunteer of the Year.

About IDentity Theft 911®

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

Rhode Island Foster Youth at First Star URI Academy Complete Inaugural Summer

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:01:00 -0700

Rhode Island becomes second state to host innovative academy

Kingston, RI - August 2, 2012 — Less than 3 percent of America’s foster youth earn four year degrees compared to 30 percent of the general population*. Today, for the 20 foster youth who completed their inaugural summer at the First Star URI Academy, there is hope that those numbers will change. Thanks in large part to the founding support of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), as well as the support of IDentity Theft 911, Adoption RI and the state Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), Rhode Island has become the second state to host this innovative Academy. The program includes a focused four week residential program, located on the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston campus, with curriculum designed to provide rising ninth graders with the tools and training they need to succeed for when they exit the foster care system. Monthly meetings and sessions will continue to engage students throughout the year.

“It is an honor to become the second university in the country to host this innovative program and help to make a dramatic difference for foster children in our home state,” said URI President David M. Dooley. “Foster youth across the country often lack a stable family environment, but today, I want these 20 young men and women to know how proud we are to have them as part of our University family.”

Last summer, national nonprofit First Star piloted the first Foster Youth Academy on campus at UCLA, which was inspired by USC professor and URI Harrington Board member, Dr. Kathleen Reardon’s book “Childhood Denied” and made a reality by film producer Peter Samuelson who leads First Star’s efforts. Hasbro was also one of the lead funders in the UCLA pilot program and played an instrumental role in replicating the model in its home state of Rhode Island. The company’s support for the URI Academy includes a grant through the Hasbro Children’s Fund and countless hours of pro bono management and leadership support. Hasbro supports programs that provide stability to children in crisis situations in areas where it has operating facilities, including Los Angeles and Rhode Island.

“After witnessing the dramatic impact of the UCLA program we were determined to bring this across the country to help foster youth in our home state,” said Karen Davis, vice president of community relations, Hasbro, Inc. “We know that we can help change the outcomes for these children by helping them be prepared for college and to realize that their dreams can become a reality with hard work and the support of a program like the First Star URI Academy. It has been a privilege to get to know these wonderful and brave students and to work alongside Matthew Cullina, CEO of Identity Theft 911, Darlene Allen, executive director of Adoption RI, Matthew Buchanan, executive director of our Academy, Tom Dougan, vice president for student affairs at URI and Dr. Janice DeFrances, director of DCYF to make the Academy a reality.”

Data compiled by First Star confirms the grim consequences of the collective failure to adequately prepare foster youth who age out of the system without being adopted. In addition to the low percentage of foster youth earning four year degrees, similar facts are tied to issues of employment, housing and identity theft:
 Employment. Less than half of former foster youth are employed by age 24.
 Housing. 24 percent of former foster youth will experience homelessness
 Credit. Identity theft is a growing problem among foster youth — a problem many do not discover until they exit care as adults (i.e. when applying for an apartment, a car loan, etc.)

“The First Star URI Academy is a beacon of hope for foster children in Rhode Island who often times do not have the opportunity for post-secondary education,” said Dr. Janice DeFrances, director of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF). “With 150 youths aging out of Rhode Island’s foster care system each year, we’re truly blessed to have this innovative program with the University of Rhode Island, Hasbro and First Star to provide the tools, support and hope these kids very much wish for.”

The issues of education, employment, housing, and credit are intertwined and can affect more than 2,000 children in Rhode Island's foster care system each year. For those aging out of the state foster care system, the lack of familial support and a safety net not only increases the likelihood of negative outcomes, but can spiral into a lifetime of poverty.

The First Star URI Academy is giving the 20 students participating an opportunity to change that outcome by providing them with full on-campus immersion, including:
 An introductory college immersion program, including an official welcome into the URI community and four-week campus stay
 A head start on college with three URI undergraduate course credits and networking opportunities
 A caring adult network of foster “alumni” and young adult mentorship
 Individualized attention and services, including interdisciplinary URI campus programs and resources
 Cooking classes provided to the students by the Mario Batali Foundation
 Multimedia training and tools to document student experience through video
 Monthly follow-up programs

After the summer immersion program, foster youth will work with their mentor throughout the year until they return to campus the following summer. The consistent contact and guidance will continue until they exit the foster care system and head to college at the age of 18.

In addition to the training and education provided through the Academy, DCYF and organizations such as Adoption Rhode Island will continue in their tireless effort to find permanent families for state foster youth. The Academy will remain involved with these youth throughout their high school years.

The First Star URI Academy is a reality because of the tireless dedication and support of many groups. Together with First Star, the University of Rhode Island, DCYF, Adoption Rhode Island, Hasbro and IDentity Theft 911 were critical in providing leadership and program development. In addition to the leadership grant made by the Hasbro Children’s Fund, in-kind and financial support was provided by CVS, MetLife, IDentity Theft 911, The DeWolf Family, The Providence Journal, The Tri-Mix Foundation and the Mario Batali Foundation.

About First Star
First Star, a national 501c3 charity dedicated to improving the lives of America’s abused and neglected children, is restoring hope through Foster Youth Academies programs around the nation. These Academies offer college-focused 4-6 week residential programs strategically located on college campuses with monthly follow-up programs. Our students receive superior academic support, enrichment and encouragement to help them prepare for and enter two- and four-year colleges. Thus, the Academies are laying a foundation to improve the likelihood that these youth will seek and attain higher education, good jobs, personal wellbeing, career advancement, economic independence, and the ability to contribute to society as responsible citizens. This groundbreaking program was first envisioned by First Star Board Member, Dr. Kathleen Reardon, in her book Childhood Denied, and first implemented on campus at the University of California, Los Angeles in the summer of 2011. For more information on the First Star Foster Youth Academy program visit: http://www.firststar.org/programs/foster-youth-academies.aspx

About the University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is known locally and worldwide for its innovative, big ideas, adaptive intelligence and breakthrough solutions to today's puzzling problems. URI's pioneering research extends the University's influence well beyond its coastal borders, while its unique interdisciplinary courses provide its 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students with global opportunities in an intimate environment. Think Big. We Do.

About Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company's world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Company's Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for markets around the world. Programming in the U.S. is distributed on The Hub TV Network, a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK). Through the Company's deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." Learn more at www.hasbro.com.

*Data and statistics have been compiled by First Star and are publicly available on their web site: www.firststar.org/library/national-statistics.aspx

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^{email ID} ^{entity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan or Brandon Keough, Hasbro Community Relations Manager.}

IDentity Theft 911 Brings Data Risk Solutions to Businesses Insured by The Cincinnati Insurance Company

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 03:00:00 -0700

IDentity Theft 911 has been selected by The Cincinnati Insurance Company to offer data breach services to its business insurance clients. The new offering provides commercial insurance policyholders with proactive and reactive data breach services, including access to IDentity Theft 911’s team of breach consulting experts and 24/7 access to IDentity Theft 911’s breach preparedness website.

IDentity Theft 911, a leader in identity management and data risk management services, announced today that it is partnering with The Cincinnati Insurance Company to bring data risk solutions to Cincinnati’s commercial insurance clients.

Recognizing the need for businesses to mitigate risks of a data breach, Cincinnati Insurance offers an optional endorsement providing coverage to reimburse businesses for breach-related expenses. In addition, policyholders receive IDentity Theft 911’s data risk management services. The IDentity Theft 911 service provides proactive and reactive data breach services to policyholders. Policyholders who select this coverage can get help from IDentity Theft 911’s team of breach consulting experts. They have 24/7 access to a breach preparedness website, and when a breach takes place, IDentity Theft 911 acts fast to help them avert a crisis.

J.F. Scherer, Jr., Executive Vice President-Business Insurance, The Cincinnati Insurance Company, said, “Business owners who believe their companies may benefit from our policy coverage and Identity Theft 911’s services can get professional advice from a local independent agent representing Cincinnati Insurance. Your agent has flexible options to tailor coverage that meets your business’s specific needs.”

IDentity Theft 911 experts assess the severity and damage of the breach, advise on regulatory and consumer notification and create action plans for responding quickly and efficiently. They also draft a customer notification letter and, for larger breaches, help design and implement a password-protected website to communicate with those who are affected. Services include computer forensics analysis, incident damage reviews and digital evidence preservation.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Cincinnati Insurance to offer businesses the proactive data risk management services they need,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “Whether it’s from a negligent employee or an outside intruder, businesses risk exposure in countless areas. By offering our data risk services, businesses are getting the best proactive and reactive protection in the industry.”

In the event of a data breach, businesses insured by Cincinnati can rely on IDentity Theft 911’s LifeStages™ Identity Management services to provide high-touch identity resolution assistance to their customers or other victims. The fraud specialists work one on one with victims and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until resolution is complete. Fraud specialists cover a range of issues, from proactive measures to take throughout a person’s life to true identity theft and account takeovers.

Business owners interested in this coverage may contact a local, independent agent representing Cincinnati. Find an Agency by visiting www.cinfin.com.

About IDentity Theft 911®

About The Cincinnati Insurance Company

The Cincinnati Insurance Company offers business, home and auto insurance through The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its two standard market property casualty companies. The same local independent insurance agencies that market those policies may offer products of the company’s other subsidiaries, including life and disability income insurance, annuities and surplus lines property and casualty insurance. For additional information about the company, please visit www.cinfin.com .

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

IDentity Theft 911 Announces Blog Series Naming Medalists in the 2012 (In)Security Olympics

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:00:00 -0700

Campaign to Spotlight the Best and the Worst Practices in Online Security, Identity Theft and Data Protection, and Privacy

In the spirit of the Olympic Games under way in London, IDentity Theft 911, a national leader in identity and data risk services, will award gold, silver and bronze medals to companies and government institutions for their performance in different events in the 2012 (In)Security Games.To raise awareness about identity and data protection best practices, IDentity Theft 911 will announce medalists in a series of blogs posted to its Knowledge Center over the course of the next two weeks.

IDentity Theft 911 experts will reveal winners and losers in different events, including Consumer Protection Decathalon, the Online Threat Firewall-Vault, and the 100-Meter Privacy Dash. Learn which companies experienced the thrill of a well-designed privacy plan and which ones felt the agony of an easily prevented data breach.

“The Olympics inspire people all around the world to strive to be the best,” said Matt Cullina, IDentity Theft 911’s chief executive officer. “Our goal is to motivate consumers, businesses and organizations to do the same—to strengthen their data security and privacy practices."

"In our blog series, IDentity Theft 911 experts will show how proper security training can help consumers and organizations guard against dropping the security baton or falling off the privacy bars,” Cullina said. “And if they do fall, we’ll show how a solid protection plan will aid in a speedy recovery.”

About IDentity Theft 911®

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

The Hanover Helps Agent Partners Bring Improved ID Theft Prevention And Recovery To Small Commercial Clients

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:42:00 -0700

Valuable Tools Now Available For Small Commercial Customers

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), a leading provider of property and casualty insurance nationwide, today announced that it has broadened its partnership with IDentity Theft 911, a leader in identity management and data-breach response. As a result, The Hanover is now introducing coverages and services for ID theft prevention and mitigation services for small business clients that are not typically available in the market for businesses of that size. The Hanover already offers these innovative IDentity Theft 911 services to its middle market customers.

"Financial and reputation losses from a data breach can devastate a small business," said Michael Keane, president, small commercial, at The Hanover. "We are very pleased to offer the IDentity Theft 911 program to help arm small businesses with innovative tools that can significantly reduce their risks related to data breaches and identity theft and help them restore their business' identity if it is compromised."

The IDentity Theft 911 service makes it easier for covered businesses to be proactive in preventing identity theft. For instance, businesses can call a 24-hour hotline staffed by experts who can help prepare for and respond to a data breach. The firm acts fast, which is critical for managing a breach to help small businesses avert a crisis when an identity theft takes place.

These services include experts who will assess the severity and damage of the breach, advise on regulatory and consumer notification, and create action plans for responding quickly and efficiently. IDentity Theft 911 also will draft a customer-notification letter and, for larger breaches, help design and implement a password-protected website to communicate with those who are affected. Services also include computer forensics analysis, incident damage reviews and digital-evidence preservation.

"We're thrilled to strengthen our partnership with The Hanover by offering essential data breach protection services to small commercial businesses," said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. "Small businesses are especially vulnerable to data exposure, whether it's from a negligent employee or an outside intruder, and business owners can rest assured knowing they're getting the best proactive and reactive protection in the market."

The new package of coverages and services is part of The Hanover's small business strategy of providing its agents with total solutions of distinctive products and innovative services, offering more value for their small business customers. Agents interested in more detail should reach out to the company through one of its local branch offices, which can be found at www.hanover.com.

About IDentity Theft 911®

About The Hanover

Founded in 1852, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) is proud to be celebrating 160 years of delivering on its promises to its agent partners and their customers. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to businesses, individuals, and families through a select group of agents and brokers, and is ranked among the top 25 property and casualty companies in the United States.

Based in Worcester, Mass., The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester, Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Michigan, Chaucer Holdings PLC, based in London, and their affiliates. Through Chaucer, the company underwrites business at Lloyd's of London in several major insurance and reinsurance classes, including property, marine and aviation, energy, U.K. motor and casualty. For more information, please visit www.hanover.com. .

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan or Paul Mormack.}

Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company Offers Identity Protection and Identity Theft Resolution Services to Policyholders

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 03:00:00 -0700

Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company has partnered with IDentity Theft 911 to provide identity theft protection, management and resolution services as coverage enhancements to policyholders. This new program provides IDentity Theft 911 LifeStages™ Identity Management services to policyholders and their families at no charge, including 24/7 dedicated access to a fraud specialist for personalized support with proactive assistance and identity theft recovery services.

IDentity Theft 911 , the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company has joined forces with the company to offer identity protection and identity theft resolution services to policyholders and their families at no charge. Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company policyholders now enjoy Identity Theft 911’s LifeStages™ Identity Management services throughout the times in life when they are most susceptible to identity theft.

According to the 2011 FTC Consumer Sentinel report, identity theft topped the list of consumer complaints for the 11th consecutive year, with more than 1.8 million complaints. Acknowledging this trend, Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company policyholders now have the benefit in knowing their insurance company can help resolve crises ranging from fire loss to property damage, personal law suits and also identity theft.

“Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company is pleased to team up with Identity Theft 911, a company whose wealth of knowledge and superb customer service can assist in helping to recover our policyholder’s financial and personal reputations,” said Matthew Schnader, CEO of Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company. “Since our policyholders’ needs are ever-changing, we are happy to include this value-added service as part of their insurance coverages at no additional cost to them.”

“We’re excited to partner with Reamstown Mutual to provide their policyholders with identity management services,” said Matt Cullina, CEO of IDentity Theft 911. “Customers face a host of inconveniences when fighting identity theft, including hours spent on the phone trying to fix the issue, as well as the costs associated with clearing any fraud. Reamstown Mutual policyholders can now rest assured that any identity theft issue will be properly managed and resolved.”

About IDentity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911's management team has more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Allstate, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company

Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company was founded in 1895 by Rudy Brossman, Henry Gockley, Henry Lausch and Andrew Shimp. As businessmen and community leaders they recognized the need to establish a local insurance company to provide protection for their neighbor's homes and businesses that the established companies could not or would not write. The founders truly gave protection at cost. Many times the officers of the company would pay claims out of their own pockets and wait to recover their cost from the annual assessment levied upon the policyholders. In fact, this saved the policyholders many dollars since sometimes no interest was charged. In 1963 the company expanded it's insurance lines to begin writing Homeowners, Mobile Homeowners, and other related insurance products.

Today, Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company provides insurance coverage through 72 independent insurance agencies in Pennsylvania. We have limited our insurance products to Pennsylvania only.

It has been and will continue to be the goal of the Directors of Reamstown Mutual Insurance Company to build a strong company through proper risk selection, sound investment practices, and fair and prompt claims service.

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

Parents Can Now Easily Monitor Their Child's Social Network and Mobile Activity

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 06:00:00 -0700

SocialScout will launch at National PTA Annual Convention, June 21-24

IDentity Theft 911, a national leader in identity and data risk services and National Member Benefits Provider of PTA, this week announces a new intelligence tool for parents called SocialScout. This new product offers a quick and easy way to analyze your child’s social networking and mobile phone activity while safeguarding their privacy and reputation on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Many parents ‘friend’ their children on various social network sites in an effort to keep track of their child’s online activities. Yet private messages, private profiles, and mobile phone use can keep much of the conversation out of parental sight.
SocialScout bridges this technology gap and makes it easy for parents to know whether their child is making good online and mobile choices, while eliminating hours of time secretly searching their child’s web history, social media sites, and phone records.

“SocialScout provides parents the opportunity to have an open dialogue with their child about social media,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDentity Theft 911. “The digital world is a very new area for parents and they’re oftentimes unaware of what their child is doing on these networks. SocialScout allows parents to dive into their child’s activities to help them make better choices.”

Launched at the 116th Annual National PTA Convention and Exhibition, June 21-24, at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center (Booth #401), SocialScout will be made available exclusively to PTA member parents through a partnership with IDentity Theft 911. PTA members will receive a special 10-percent discount on all services. Presentations demonstrating the service’s capabilities are scheduled on June 21 at noon and June 22 at 5:00 p.m.

“We’re very excited about IDentity Theft 911 and their exclusive offer of SocialScout to PTA members,” said Betsy Landers, National PTA President. “With even the most involved parents and families, text messages and private conversation can fly under the radar. A service like SocialScout is invaluable in breaking down the digital barriers between parent and child and gives relief to those worried about their child’s online and mobile activities.”

At the National PTA Convention, attendees can choose to attend a wide-range of high-quality workshops and sessions, including six workshop tracks and four general meetings. These lively, interactive sessions will impart valuable information and resources that PTA leaders and members can take back to their schools and communities -- ideas and inspiration to help grow your local PTA, engage more parents, and involve teachers, students, schools, and business partners.

In addition, SocialScout is available to national and local insurance carriers, financial institutions and employers, offering peace of mind to parents wisely concerned about the online threats targeting their children. For more information, visit mysocialscout.net.

About IDentity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911's management team has more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Allstate, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company Offers Identity Protection and Identity Theft Resolution Services to Policyholders

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 03:00:00 -0700

The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company has partnered with Identity Theft 911 to provide identity theft protection, management and resolution services as coverage enhancements to policyholders. This new program provides Identity Theft 911 LifeStages™ Identity Management services to policyholders at no charge, including 24/7 dedicated access to a fraud specialist for personalized support with proactive assistance and identity theft recovery services.

IDentity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, today announced that The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company has partnered to offer identity protection and identity theft resolution services to policyholders at no charge. The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company policyholders now enjoy Identity Theft 911’s LifeStages™ Identity Management services throughout the times in life when they are most vulnerable to identity theft.

According to the 2011 FTC Consumer Sentinel report, identity theft topped the list of consumer complaints for the 11th consecutive year, with more than 1.8 million complaints. Recognizing this trend, Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company policyholders can rest assured knowing their insurance company can help resolve crises ranging from fire loss to property damage, personal law suits and also identity theft.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Identity Theft 911 to offer identity management services to our policyholders,” said Sandy Parrillo, president and CEO of The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company. “Our goal is to help our policyholders avoid all losses and they can now take comfort in knowing they have identity management coverage at their fingertips.”

“As identity theft grows in scale and complexity, victims are often alone in trying to repair their reputation and identity,” said Matt Cullina, CEO of Identity Theft 911. “We’re excited Providence Mutual has selected us to provide its policyholders with white-glove identity management and resolution services.”

Identity Theft 911 fraud specialists provide high-touch service to victims from the initial call for help until the case is resolved. Their expertise covers a range of issues, from proactive measures to take throughout a person’s life to true identity theft and account takeovers. The fraud specialists work one-on-one with victims until resolution is complete.

About IDentity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. IDentity Theft 911's management team has more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Allstate, FM Global, and other leading institutions. IDentity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company
New England's oldest mutual fire insurance company, The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company was chartered by the General Assembly of Rhode Island in 1800 in Providence. Today The Providence Mutual Group provides personal and commercial insurance protection, written exclusively through more than 400 professional independent agents, to more than 65,000 policyholders in New England, New York and New Jersey. Based in Warwick, RI, The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company currently employs approximately 75 individuals, all of whom are committed to providing consistent, excellent service to the agents and policyholders.

Committed to providing policyholders with the security they deserve, The Providence has historically demonstrated outstanding financial performance and responsibility. A.M. Best Company, the nation's leading independent provider of insurance financial reporting, has consistently awarded The Providence Mutual Group its excellent (A) rating. The award is based on The Providence's solid capital position and accumulation, its excellent liquidity derived from disciplined underwriting practices and extensive local market knowledge through its long-standing independent agency relationships.

For more than two hundred years, The Providence has endured the winds of change and remained true to its original mission: to provide financial security to our policyholders against the "ravages of fire," and other perils from which they seek protection.

Since 1800, The Providence has kept its promise, in the best mutual tradition, providing stability to policyholders by continuing to serve "for the security and advantage of our neighbors and fellow citizens" and "without any view of private gain or interest."

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

Identity Theft 911 Hires Sales Veteran Duane Cable as Client Relations Manager

Thu, 10 May 2012 03:30:00 -0700

Former insurance company manager Duane Cable joins Identity Theft 911's growing identity management and data risk management talent base. With more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Cable brings his extensive expertise to the Identity Theft 911 sales and client relations team.

Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, today announced that Duane Cable has joined the company as a client relations manager. Cable brings more than 30 years of proven experience in helping insurance companies successfully develop and go-to-market with products and services that bring value to policyholders and comply with ever-changing laws and regulations.

Most recently, Cable served as assistant vice president of product development and commercial services at Motorists Mutual Insurance Co., a super-regional property and casualty company, and a member of the Motorists Insurance Group (MIG), headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. There, Cable was responsible for the personal lines and commercial lines product development for all companies in the MIG and led the introduction of commercial lines portfolio based Equipment Breakdown, Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) and Security Breach coverages. Prior to that, Cable also held management positions with Motorists in commercial underwriting and marketing and was part of the company's new-hire mentoring program.

“Duane is a highly respected insurance industry leader, who has an in-depth understanding of the market’s needs," said Sam Broomer, vice president of business development, Identity Theft 911. "As we continue to grow, he complements our team of trusted advisors and brings along strong relationship skills. He knows the industry inside out, is familiar with the players we market to and recognizes what it takes to partner with them.”

Cable joins the company's team of B2B client relations professionals who deliver identity and data risk management solutions and provide focused assistance to insurance and financial services industry clients, as well as other industries.

"I am thrilled to be part of Identity Theft 911's team," said Cable. "I've been their client for years and know first-hand how they bend over backwards to understand and meet their clients' core needs. They are a recognized industry innovator that continues to develop, maintain and leverage strategic client partnerships."

Cable has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and holds the Charter Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Underwriting (AU).professional insurance designations.

About Identity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. Identity Theft 911's management team has more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Allstate, FM Global, and other leading institutions. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

Legal and Privacy Experts Discuss Strategic Implications of a Data Breach in Joint Webinar

Wed, 09 May 2012 03:30:00 -0700

Online Webinar on May 15, 2012, Helps Businesses Set Up and Manage Cyber Risk Strategy

Every business must clearly understand its data risks and how cyber risks impact strategy for an organization's entire enterprise risk management (ERM). A recent executive report jointly released by RIMS (the Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc.), Identity Theft 911 (IDT911) and USLAW NETWORK explored data risk management best practices, concepts and challenges. On May 15, 2012, these same three organizations have joined forces to sponsor an all-new online webinar that further probes risk assessment, data privacy issues and their strategic implications.

In response to the joint 'ERM Best Practices' report, RIMS is offering a webinar led by a panel of experts titled 'Strategic Implications of Data Risks: Exploring the intersection of privilege, protection and preparedness. The hour-long webinar is available free to RIMS members and is $30 for nonmembers. To register, visit bit.ly/ERMwebinar.

“During this informative webinar, we'll be providing real-world examples and practical solutions to help jump start data risk strategy," said Brian McGinley, Identity Theft 911's Senior Vice President of Data Risk Management and one of the webinar instructors. "Our presentation supports the report findings and helps organizations understand their needs and develop a matching strategy to better manage cyber risks.”

RIMS will also host a “Cyber Risk: Privacy and Data Security Risk Management” workshop – developed by Identity Theft 911 – three times this year. Dates and locations for the upcoming 2012 workshops include a Canadian location in addition to two in the United States:
• San Francisco, California June 20 - 21, 2012
• Winnipeg, Manitoba August 13 - 14, 2012
• Washington, DC September 20 - 21, 2012

About RIMS
As the preeminent organization dedicated to advancing the practice of risk management, RIMS (the Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc.) is a global not-for-profit organization representing more than 3,500 industrial, service, nonprofit, charitable and government entities throughout the world. Founded in 1950, RIMS brings networking, professional development and education opportunities to its membership of more than 10,000 risk management professionals who operate in more than 120 countries. For more information on RIMS, visit www.RIMS.org.

About USLAW NETWORK
USLAW NETWORK is a global organization composed of 66 independent law firms with over 5,000 attorneys covering the United States, Canada and Latin America. Among the firms, there are over 150 offices in 47 U.S. states. An alliance with the Trans-European Law Firm Alliance (TELFA) gives USLAW access to 25 European law firms each representing its own jurisdiction and a similar relationship with ALN Limited enables the organization to partner with 10 firms in East and Central Africa. www.uslaw.org.

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

The Rockingham Group Offers Enhanced Identity Protection and Identity Theft Resolution Services to Policyholders

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:00:00 -0700

The Rockingham Group has again partnered with Identity Theft 911 to provide identity theft protection, management and resolution services as coverage enhancements to policyholders. This new program provides Identity Theft 911 LifeStages™ Identity Management services to policyholders and their families at no charge, including 24/7 dedicated access to a fraud specialist for personalized support with proactive assistance and identity theft recovery services.

Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services, and long-time client The Rockingham Group have again joined forces to offer identity protection and identity theft resolution services to policyholders and their families at no charge. The Rockingham Group policyholders now enjoy Identity Theft 911 LifeStages™ Identity Management services throughout the times in life when they are most vulnerable to identity theft.

According to the 2011 FTC Consumer Sentinel report, identity theft topped the list of consumer complaints for the 11th consecutive year, with more than 1.8 million complaints. Recognizing this trend, The Rockingham Group policyholders have the convenience and benefit in knowing that their insurance company can help resolve crises ranging from fire loss to property damage, personal law suits and identity theft solutions.

“Continuing a six year partnership, we’re excited to offer Identity Theft 911’s special services to our policyholders,” said Matt Young, VP, Underwriting, The Rockingham Group. “Helping our policyholders avoid losses of all kinds is our priority and protection against identity theft is becoming increasingly necessary.”

“Identity theft continues to rise and has become more intricate, leaving victims alone in trying to repair their reputation and identity,” said Matt Cullina, CEO of Identity Theft 911. “We’re proud Rockingham Mutual has selected our company to provide its policyholders with identity management education and resolution services.”

About Identity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. Identity Theft 911 personnel have more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, All State, FM Global, and other leading institutions. Identity Theft 911 is the proud recipient of several awards, including the Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About The Rockingham Group
The Rockingham Group has been providing for the insurance needs of generations of policyholders since 1869. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Virginia, the company provides an array of personal and small business insurance products to more than 50,000 policyholders through over 100 insurance agencies in Virginia and Pennsylvania. The group is rated A (excellent) by insurance industry rating organization A.M. Best.

The Rockingham Group consists of Rockingham Mutual Insurance Company, Rockingham Casualty Company, and Rockingham Mutual Service Agency, Inc.

For more information about Rockingham, please visit www.rockinghamgroup.com.

^{For media inquiries or more information, please} ^email ^{Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.}

Identity Theft 911 Hires Reinsurance Veteran Sam Broomer as Vice President of Business Development

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:00:00 -0700

Former insurance company executive Samuel T. Broomer joins the Identity Theft 911's growing identity management and data risk management talent base. With nearly 20 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry, Broomer will lead the Identity Theft 911 business development team.

Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, today announced that Sam Broomer has joined the company as vice president of business development. Broomer brings nearly 20 years of proven experience in helping insurance companies successfully go-to market with products and services that bring value to policyholders.

Most recently, Broomer served as vice president and new business development manager at Mutual Boiler Re, a member of the FM Global Group, a company that creates customized equipment breakdown reinsurance programs and related services for insurance companies in the United States and Canada. There, Broomer launched the new business development department to grow and retain their client insurance base with innovative programs. Prior to that, Boomer held management positions with The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company.

"Sam is a highly respected insurance industry leader, who has an in-depth understanding of the market's needs," said Identity Theft 911 CEO Matt Cullina. "As we continue to grow, he complements our executive team of trusted advisors and brings along strong relationships. He knows the industry inside out, is familiar with the players we market to and recognizes what it takes to partner with them."
Broomer will lead the company's team of B2B business development professionals that, together, amass more than 200 years of insurance experience delivering identity and data risk management solutions. Identity Theft 911’s expert teams provide focused assistance to insurance and financial services industry clients, as well as leading Fortune 500 companies.

"I am thrilled to be spearheading Identity Theft 911's business development team," said Broomer. "I've been their partner for years and worked with scores of companies that rely on their wide range of Commercial and Personal Lines products and services. They are a recognized industry innovator that continues to develop, maintain and leverage strategic client partnerships."

Recognized by his peers, Broomer is a recipient of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) Merit Award and holds an Associate in Reinsurance from the Insurance Industry of America. He was also a member or board member of numerous NAMIC committees, The Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (PAMIC) Finance Committee, NAMIC and PAMIC Political Action Committees and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

About Identity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. Identity Theft 911 personnel have more than 200 years of insurance and financial experience, having served at companies such as AIG, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, All State, FM Global, and other leading institutions. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

For media inquiries or more information, please email Identity Theft 911 PR Manager Kelly Colgan.

Privacy breach: Is your business ready to manage one?

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:52:00 -0700

Economical first in Canada to offer affordable, proactive service and coverage to help small and medium-sized Canadian businesses stay in business after a privacy breach.

WATERLOO, ON, April 3, 2012 – In today’s high-tech workplace, Canadian businesses are facing ever-increasing risks and costs of privacy breaches that can expose sensitive customer information. The risks are everywhere—arising both from inside and outside of Canadian businesses.

In response to the growing need for Canadian businesses to defend against the risks and costs of privacy breaches, Economical Insurance® has partnered with IDT911, North America’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, to be the first in Canada to offer a proactive solution to help minimize the chance of a breach and help manage breaches when they occur.

A recent study facilitated jointly by Verizon Risk, the U.S. secret service and the Dutch High Tech Crime Unit reported that 96% of studied breaches could have been avoided by the victim business without needing to take difficult or expensive steps.

This report and others like it underscore the importance of privacy breach services protection for Canadian businesses. Having appropriate coverage along with breach preparation and response services can help businesses safeguard reputation, credibility and trust that could be damaged by exposure of consumer data or could lead to business failure.

"Economical is pleased to be a Canadian trendsetter by offering affordable services and coverage to prepare and protect small to mid-sized companies, while covering expenses related to privacy breach,” said Dianna Fioravanti, Economical’s vice-president of commercial insurance. “This includes tools and assistance to help prevent occurrences, while also supporting and providing financial protection to our commercial policyholders should their data be compromised. This solution sets Economical’s business policies apart from the competition.”

Along with the protection and services comes 24/7 access to expert guidance on privacy issues, regulatory requirements and steps to take should a breach occur. In the event of a breach, IDT911’s team of experts can help assess the event, perform forensics to determine its severity, consult on next steps to address the situation and provide response services.

“Exposure from employee errors, lost or stolen laptops and thumb-drives is on the rise, with the Canadian TELUS study reporting mobile devices as the biggest area of concern," said Matt Cullina, CEO, IDT911. "The focus has shifted to privacy concerns at small and midsize companies which are often unprepared and unprotected. With our assistance, Economical’s endorsement provides vulnerable Canadian companies with a comprehensive solution to protect their customers, their business and their reputation.”

To learn more about Economical’s privacy breach coverage, please contact your insurance broker.

About IDT911

Founded in 2003, IDT911 is North America’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across North America and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, North America’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 200,000 businesses manage data breaches. For more information, please visit www.idt911.ca, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About The Economical Insurance Group

Founded in 1871, The Economical Insurance Group is one of Canada’s largest property and casualty insurers, with $1.7 billion in premiums and $4.6 billion in assets. Based in Waterloo, ON, this Canadian-owned and operated group services the insurance needs of more than one million customers through 19 branches and service offices across the country. In 2010, Economical announced its decision to become the first federally-regulated mutual property and casualty insurance company to demutualize. Economical is currently reviewing strategic options and will submit a comprehensive demutualization strategy for mutual policyholder approval after the federal government’s completion of regulatory development. For more information, please visit www.economicalinsurance.com.

The Economical Insurance Group’s member companies include: Economical Mutual Insurance Company (including Western General Farm Division), Waterloo Insurance Company, Perth Insurance Company, The Missisquoi Insurance Company, Federation Insurance Company of Canada, Family Insurance Solutions and The Mattei Companies.

For further information, contact: Doug Maybee, The Economical Insurance Group, Tel: 519.570.8249, Cell: 519.404.0989, doug.maybee@teig.com or Kelly Colgan, IDT911, Tel: 401-680-4025, media@idt911.com.

IDT911 Client Relations Manager Elected President of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0700

Identity Theft 911 Client Relations Manager Elected President of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) Arizona Chapter

Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, today announced that Client Relations Manager, Gina King, was elected president of the Arizona chapter of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI). As leader of the one of the largest IAFCI chapters in the world, King is responsible for overseeing day-to-day chapter operations, chapter meetings, the annual chapter seminar, chapter financials and representing the chapter at the International board meetings.

The win recognizes King's 12 years of active IAFCI involvement and service in both Southern California and Arizona, including two years as chapter secretary and most recently, two years as vice president. King was directly involved with the planning and preparation for the 2009 Annual National Conference held in Phoenix, as well as with the chapter's last two well attended one-day seminars. King has more than 15 years in fraud experience, both as a fraud specialist and fraud manager for TransUnion and Identity Theft 911. She currently maintains relationships with some of Identity Theft 911’s top clients.

The IAFCI is a nonprofit international organization providing services and information about financial fraud, fraud investigation and fraud prevention methods. Having begun in 1968 in response to increasing transaction-card crimes, the association has grown steadily with members now spread across the globe representing law enforcement, banking and retail services.

Financial fraud is growing at a rapid pace, as criminals employ more sophisticated methods to get their hands on valuable credit card and other account information. The FTC's Consumer Sentinel Report states that consumers paid nearly $1.5 billion for fraud complaints in 2011 and that identity theft complaints remain the number one issue for the 14th consecutive year. IAFCI is committed to providing consumers with critical information to help protect themselves from fraud and other financial crimes, employment scams, identity theft, as well as charity, sweepstakes and online auction scams.

“Working with IAFCI has been a real pleasure and is always a fantastic educational and networking experience for all of our member companies and individuals," King said. "There are numerous opportunities to meet fellow professionals, share knowledge and learn together, including the Arizona chapter's recent 2012 Annual Spring Training Seminar on March 8th and the IAFCI's 2012 Training Conference and Exhibitor Show in San Antonio in August. I continue to be grateful to be part of such a wonderful organization."

“On behalf of the IAFCI, we are pleased to welcome Gina King as the 2012–2013 Arizona Chapter President,” said Jimmy Haughran, international president, IAFCI. “This is a volunteer position and we appreciate her continued dedication to the IAFCI and to the Arizona Chapter. Gina has been a member of the Association since 2003 and has supported both the Southern California Chapter and now the Arizona Chapter. We look forward to working with her in her new capacity."

About Identity Theft 911

Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

If you are a member of the media, or to schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact Corporate Communications by email.

Identity Theft 911's Recipe Helps Consumers Protect Their Piece of the PII

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:30:00 -0700

In recognition of the Federal Trade Commission’s 14th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), “The Recipe for a Safer Identity is as Easy as PII,” an imaginative look at how to protect personally identifiable information—or PII. Over the past few years, the definition of PII has significantly evolved beyond Social Security numbers, birthdays and mothers’ maiden names to include, among other data, email addresses, passwords and PINs. The piece features a unique PII ChartTM, that graphically shows the myriad ways that consumers are vulnerable, along with valuable tips to help them safeguard privacy and avoid identity theft, fraud and scams.

"The Federal government has defined PII and created laws specifically to protect a consumer’s sensitive information," said Matt Cullina, chief executive officer of Identity Theft 911. "However, we often neglect to keep track of the variety of everyday risks to our PII, as well as the multiple exposure points that expose us to identity theft and fraud. This recipe helps make it 'easy as pie' to do just that."

Within the simple recipe are practical pointers and advice to help consumers sort the many identity relationships they've created and separate those relationships from each other. There are also simple, no-nonsense suggestions on how to reduce the risk of identity theft and keep thieves away from confidential data.

“When people think of identity theft, they tend to primarily focus on the financial impact,” said Adam Levin, cofounder of Credit.com and Identity Theft 911. “Unfortunately, we are at risk literally everywhere we turn and the ramifications of victimization go way beyond economics. In extreme cases where medical, criminal, or tax-related identity theft has occurred, an innocent victim could face denial of medical treatment, wrongful arrest, destruction of reputation, inclusion on a “no fly” list, the wrath of the IRS, or death in an emergency room. National Consumer Protection Week is the perfect time to review our relationships with the companies, organizations and various people that fill our lives and find out if they are vigorously protecting our privacy and properly securing our data or putting us in harms way.”

About Identity Theft 911

If you are a member of the media, or to schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact Corporate Communications by email at media@idt911.com .

Special NCPW Update: Identity Theft 911 Offers 9 Practical Tips to Safeguard Identity Assets

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:57:00 -0700

At one time, personally identifiable information, or PII, was simply a Social Security number, birth date and mother's maiden name. But recent hacks, breaches and cyber attacks at some of the world's largest corporations have changed the definition of a person's identity assets to include email addresses, passwords and PINs. Additionally, consumers are giving an ever-increasing amount of confidential information to a wider variety of companies, government entities, organizations, and individuals.

As the volume of private information grows and evolves, consumers need to take a fresh look at how to protect privacy and avoid identity theft, fraud and scams. Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, is more than happy to participate in the Federal Trade Commission’s 14th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) by providing the following 9 practical tips to safeguard identity assets.

1. Look at the big picture for your PII. Today, identity isn’t just a password here or a number there, but an entire picture of the identity relationships you’ve created.
2. Create your own PII ChartTM . By category, note every relationship you have with organizations that keep personally identifiable information about you. Don’t stop with the common ones, like employers, schools, doctors, creditors, banks, and email providers. Your identity lives in less obvious places, too – your online and social networking accounts; frequent flier programs; homeowners associations; churches; volunteer organizations; hobby clubs; even with household helpers and libraries.
3. Include your kids PII, too. Think daycare, pediatricians, schools, gaming and iTunes accounts, Little League associations, and summer camps. And check out our tips for parents, too.
4. Set up unique passwords for each PII category. For example, don’t use the same password to log into your Facebook account that you use for online banking. Take a pass on easy access to your accounts with strong passwords.
5. Guard your mobile devices. It’s inconvenient to enter numbers or a pattern every time you want to access your device, but it’s even more inconvenient to have your identity stolen. Passwords provide another layer of protection from thieves getting access to your credentials.
6. Use different credit cards online and off. Dedicate a single credit card to online shopping, and don’t use it for anything else. Ditto for your child’s online gaming account (and NEVER link it to a debit card tied to your bank account). Follow our tips to protect credit and debit cards.
7. Set limits on who-knows-what for each part of your PII. For example, under “children’s activities,” do your kids’ pottery and karate teachers need their complete birth dates or will month and day do?
8. Trim the amount of data you keep out there to reduce risk. Delete unneeded data on your smartphone (including “forgotten password” reset messages). Purge old files from your laptop. And if your smartphone is still geotagging photos (sometimes a default setting), consider disabling the feature. Photos are part of your PII, too.
9. Treat your identity is an asset—as valuable as cash in hand. And it’s easily compromised through theft or a data breach. So become familiar all of our tips for protecting your identity.

About Identity Theft 911

If you are a member of the media, or to schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact Corporate Communications by email at media@idt911.com .

MAPFRE Puerto Rico Partners with Identity Theft 911 to Provide Identity Theft Protection and Resolution Services to Policyholders

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:56:00 -0700

MAPFRE Puerto Rico has partnered with Identity Theft 911 to provide identity theft protection, management and resolution services as enhancements to its Personal Package Policy. This coverage is available to policyholders who select MAPFRE’s extended version of the Identity Theft expense endorsement. This new program provides Identity Theft 911 LifeStages™ Identity Management services to policyholders and their families at no charge, including 24/7 dedicated access to a fraud specialist for personalized support with proactive assistance and identity theft recovery services.

Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, today announced that MAPFRE PRAICO Insurance Co., has chosen the company to offer identity protection and identity theft resolution services to policyholders who select MAPFRE’s extended identity theft endorsement within the Personal Package Policy. MAPFRE policyholders and their family members now benefit from Identity Theft 911 LifeStages™ Identity Management services during the times in life when they are most susceptible to identity theft.

“Partnering with Identity Theft 911 was an easy decision; we wanted a company that matches our philosophy of offering quality customer service,” said Alex Negron, VP of Marketing, MAPFRE PRAICO Insurance Co. “We think it’s extremely important for our policyholders to have access to identity management services, whether it’s an actual crisis or a small question about how to protect oneself.”

Identity Theft 911 fraud specialists provide high-touch service to victims from the initial call through case resolution. Their expertise covers a range of issues, from proactive measures that provide protection to resolution in the case of true identity theft and account takeovers. The fraud specialists work one-on-one with victims and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until resolution is complete.

“Puerto Ricans are particularly vulnerable to identity theft because undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are willing to buy stolen personal information belonging to a U.S. citizen with a Latino surname,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, Identity Theft 911. “Since Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, their birth certificates can be used to obtain fraudulent social services, driver's licenses and even passports. We couldn’t be more thrilled that MAPFRE has chosen us to be their trusted advisor in offering identity management services to policyholders.”

About Identity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

If you are a member of the media, or to schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact Corporate Communications by email at media@idt911.com .

Heartland Bank Selects Identity Theft 911 to Provide Identity Theft Protection, Management and Resolution Services to Customers

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:56:00 -0700

Heartland Bank has partnered with Identity Theft 911 to provide identity theft protection, management and resolution services as coverage enhancements to customers. This new program provides Identity Theft 911’s LifeStages™ Identity Management and Fraud and Credit Monitoring services to customers and their families, including dedicated access to a fraud specialist for personalized support with proactive assistance and identity theft recovery services.

Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, today announced that Heartland Bank has chosen the company to offer identity protection and resolution services, as well as fraud and credit monitoring services to customers. Heartland Bank customers and their family members now benefit from Identity Theft 911’s LifeStages™ Identity Management and Fraud and Credit Monitoring services during the times in life when they are most susceptible to identity theft. The combined offering is a comprehensive identity management solution—from monitoring and alerting to advisory, investigation, resolution and advocacy services.

According to the 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin Strategy & Research, the average consumer out-of-pocket cost due to identity fraud increased 63 percent from $387 in 2009 to $631 per incident in 2010. Along with the higher cost of resolution fees, the average time spent resolving identity fraud issues increased from 21 to 33 hours, emphasizing the need for better consumer education and resolution services. Recognizing this trend, Heartland Bank customers have the convenience and benefit of a trusted advisor they can turn to for help resolving crises in credit and identity theft.

Identity Theft 911 Fraud and Credit Monitoring scours billions of identity records—including credit reports and scores and noncredit files, like court records and internet sites—in a round the clock pursuit for possible signs of fraud. If fraud does occur, Identity Theft 911 fraud specialists work one-on-one with victims and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until resolution is complete. Their expertise covers a range of issues, from proactive measures that provide protection to resolution in the case of true identity theft and account takeovers.

About Identity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

If you are a member of the media, or to schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact Corporate Communications by email at media@idt911.com .

Special Report: The Key to an Effective Cyber Risk Strategy

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:56:00 -0700

Study Highlights the Benefits of Implementing ERM Practices to Manage Cyber Risks

There has never been a more important time to assess and update your data risk management practices, according to a new executive report jointly released by RIMS (the Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc.), Identity Theft 911 (IDT911) and USLAW NETWORK.

“ERM Best Practices in the Cyber World” is a 29-page “how-to” guide designed to help organizations successfully manage data risk through an enterprise risk management (ERM) approach. The report explores the best data risk management practices, concepts and challenges; the advantages and potential pitfalls of data risk assessments; steps to undertake an attorney-directed assessment project; practical solutions for weathering the cyber storm; as well as possible coverage opportunities under existing or newly available insurance policies.

“Data risks may hold unrecognized implications for an organization’s strategy, particularly if delegated to a technology function to manage alone,” said Carol Fox, Director of the Strategic and Enterprise Risk Practice at RIMS. “This report will help executives tap ERM best practices for unifying legal, security, data management and protection, information security, privacy, compliance and audit functions that are needed for a comprehensive data risk approach, while protecting risk assessment report findings.”

“The volume and value of sensitive data has never been higher and the sophistication of those who want to steal it continues to increase in lockstep with the newest technological innovations,” said David A. Speciale, J.D., CITRMS, Director of Business Acquisition at IDT911. “All the while, the potential cost of a data breach grows ever more catastrophic in terms of financial, legal, and reputational damage. Failure to act is not an option.”

Richard Magrath, Global Director, USLAW NETWORK said, “While a focused data risk assessment helps an organization’s management fulfill its fiduciary duty of care, the assessment itself can involve risk. The written reports generated at the culmination of such a risk assessment, whether conducted internally or by an external party, may provide a roadmap for an adversary, an advantage for a competitor or be produced as evidence of negligence or willful disregard in a tort action. It is important for organizations to protect such reports from unwanted discovery, so they can be used constructively within the organization with fewer misgivings about potential misuse.”

The full report can be purchased at www.RIMS.org/RIMStore. The report is free for RIMS members and $29 for non-members. The report will also be made available for free to those belonging to the USLAW NETWORK and IDT911 clients.

In conjunction with the release of this white paper, RIMS and Identity Theft 911 will host “Cyber Risk: Privacy and Data Security Risk Management” workshop four times throughout the year. Dates and locations are as follows:
• March 5 -6 in New York;
• June 20-21 in San Francisco;
• August 13-14 in Winnipeg; and
• September 20-21 in Washington, DC.

To register for the workshop and to receive a free copy of the “ERM Best Practices in the Cyber World” report, visit www.RIMS.org/CyberWorkshop12.

Also, RIMS 2012 Annual Conference & Exhibition scheduled for April 15 – 18 in Philadelphia will feature several ERM and Cyber Risk Management sessions including:
• Enterprise Best Practices in the Cyber World
• ERM and Business Continuity Management
• Cyber Attack and Privacy Claims: Litigation, Insurance and Crisis Management
• Practical ERM Tools to Support Your Growing Program
• Hey Hacker, Get Off My Cloud!

For more information about these sessions or to register for the Annual Conference & Exhibition, visit www.RIMS.org/RIMS12

About Identity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

If you are a member of the media, or to schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact Corporate Communications by email at media@idt911.com.

RI Congressman, IDT911 Urge Tax Identity Theft Precautions

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:07:00 -0700

If you are a member of the media, or to schedule an interview with one of our experts, please contact Corporate Communications by email at media@idt911.com.

Media Contacts:
Kelly Colgan
Public Relations Manager, Identity Theft 911
401-680-4025
media@idt911.com

^{For Immediate Release}

Congressman Langevin, Identity Theft 911 Urge Precautions Following Spate of Criminal Activity

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – February 2, 2012

Reflecting their continued commitment to protecting vulnerable Americans from identity theft, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) joined Identity Theft 911 CEO Matt Cullina to bring attention to reports of more than 900 federal criminal charges in the last week and highlight key steps for individuals to protect themselves and their loved ones. The recent news comes as a result of a crackdown by the IRS and Justice Department against refund fraud and identity theft as tax season gets underway.

Langevin and Cullina had previously worked together to pass into law new requirements for states to help foster youth, considered among the most affected populations by identity theft. The law mandates free credit checks on their records and removal of any inaccuracies.

“The sheer volume of identity theft cases brought to light in such a short period of time should serve as a wakeup call to everyone that we are all at risk,” said Langevin. “I pledge to continue to work in Congress to ensure our law enforcement has the tools to find and punish perpetrators and better protect our citizens. In the meantime, I am proud to work with Matt on helping people understand the prevalence of identity theft and publicize ways for them to avoid becoming victims.”

“Tax season is an especially busy time of year for identity thieves,” said Cullina. “No single document contains more personal information than your tax return. Tax-related identity theft has more than doubled since 2008, so it’s imperative that consumers are armed with information to keep their identity – and their return – in their own hands. Although the IRS is making strides in catching fraudulent tax returns, there are steps consumers can take to reduce their risk of becoming a victim.”

Tips to Protect Your Identity:

1. Keep it safe. Never carry your Social Security card or number in a purse or wallet. Leave it at home in a secure place or in a safe-deposit box.
2. Do not store tax information on your computer. Keep sensitive tax information (worksheets, W-2s, 1099s, 1040s) on a password-protected or encrypted external drive or disk, and store it in a secure location, such as a safe-deposit box or a locked safe. If you must store it on your computer, make sure the drive is encrypted. Never store tax files or any personal information on a cloud or Internet drive.
3. Employ strong usernames and passwords, especially when conducting financial business online. Always include numbers, upper- and lowercase characters, and symbols such as *, ! and &.
4. Be picky about your preparer. Carefully choose a tax preparer. Many fraud rings front as tax preparation companies that may steal personal information, redirect your return or offer to fraudulently review your returns for inaccuracies.
5. Snoop around. Verify the status of your preparer’s license with the Better Business Bureau and IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Email the IRS at opr@irs.gov with the full name of the individual or company and their address to confirm they’re a legitimate operation.
6. Do the math. Your annual Social Security Statement will identify all income from individuals working in the United States under your SSN. Do the numbers look right? This can be a good way to spot otherwise undetected identity theft.
7. Stalk your mail carrier. Monitor your mailbox and stay on the lookout for W-2s, 1099s and other official tax forms. If any are late or appear to have been opened, contact the provider immediately to find out how and when they were mailed.
8. Splurge on the extras. If you file a return by snail mail, make sure to use certified mail from the U.S. Postal Service so you can confirm its arrival.
9. Go electronic. Opt for direct deposit of tax refunds to avoid lost or stolen refund checks.

Identity Theft 911 Chief Executive Officer Receives Communitas Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:07:00 -0700

^{For Immediate Release}

Identity Theft 911 Chief Executive Officer Receives Communitas Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – January 11, 2012

Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, today announced that chief executive officer, Matt Cullina, has been named winner of a Communitas award for his work in helping to protect foster teens from becoming victims of identity theft. Cullina is fully entrenched in foster youth identity theft issues through his professional experience with a leading provider of identity management services, as well as his personal experience as a foster parent and adoptive parent. An ongoing effort among subject matter experts at Identity Theft 911, the win demonstrates the company’s commitment to working together to create an impactful and rewarding philanthropy program.

Communitas Awards recognize exceptional businesses, organizations and individuals for excellence in community service and corporate social responsibility. The Award is an international effort to recognize the spirit of communitas – people helping people. Communitas winners generously give of themselves and their resources, and are changing the way they do business to benefit their communities.

“Matt and his team exemplify the true meaning of the Communitas Award; they unselfishly give of themselves and they are forever-changing their surrounding community,” said Ed Dalheim, executive director, Communitas Awards. “Matt’s involvement and passion for protecting and helping foster youth is shown through his team’s commitment to foster youth issues and demonstrated through Identity Theft 911’s pledge to corporate social responsibility.”

Cullina has been an active contributor on the legislative front by working with U.S. Representative Jim Langevin of Rhode Island on a bill to protect foster youth from financial abuse. The bill was signed into law on October 11, 2011, and contains provisions that shield foster youth from identity theft, as well as provide resolution and support services should identity theft occur. On July 11, Cullina donated his time to serve as a panelist at the FTC forum Stolen Futures for child identity theft, which highlighted issues in the foster care system.

“Matt has been a tremendous partner in efforts to give foster youth the opportunities they deserve, providing invaluable leadership to help address the unique challenges faced by an underserved community,” said Langevin. “This recognition for corporate social responsibility is certainly well-earned.”

As one of Cullina’s main efforts, Identity Theft 911 united with First Star, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of America's abused and neglected children. First Star Founder Peter Samuelson and Cullina delivered a series of educational seminars to ninth grade foster children in Los Angeles County in a program called the First Star UCLA Bruin Academy. Cullina’s team of fraud specialists donated their time and training during the five week course. Identity Theft 911 and First Star will replicate this academy at universities and colleges throughout the country in 2012.

“We are in a unique position to create a positive impact on the lives of foster youth, especially in helping them achieve financial stability and start with a clean identity profile,” said Matt Cullina. “It is tremendously rewarding to have my team’s efforts recognized by the Communitas Awards committee.”

About Identity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.

About Communitas Awards
Communitas Awards is an outgrowth of the pro bono recognition program of the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (www.amcpros.com), a several thousand member group that honors creative achievement and fosters partnerships with charities and community organizations. As part of its mission, AMCP gives grants to community organizations and underwrites a large portion of Communitas expenses.

The IMT Insurance Company and Wadena Insurance Company Select Identity Theft 911 to Provide Identity Theft Protection and Resolution Services to Customers

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:12:00 -0700

^{For Immediate Release}

The IMT Insurance Company and Wadena Insurance Company Select Identity Theft 911 to Provide Identity Theft Protection and Resolution Services to Customers

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – January 10, 2012

Identity Theft 911, the nation’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, today announced that The IMT Insurance Company and Wadena Insurance Company have chosen the company to offer identity protection and identity theft resolution services to customers. The IMT Insurance Company and Wadena Insurance Company’s policyholders and their families now benefit from Identity Theft 911’s LifeStages™ Identity Management services during the times in life when they are most susceptible to identity theft.

According to the 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin Strategy & Research, the average consumer out-of-pocket cost due to identity fraud increased 63 percent from $387 in 2009 to $631 per incident in 2010. Along with the higher cost of resolution fees, the average time spent resolving identity fraud issues increased from 21 to 33 hours, emphasizing the need for better consumer education and resolution services. Recognizing this trend, The IMT Insurance Company and Wadena Insurance Company customers have the convenience and benefit of a trusted advisor they can turn to for help resolving crises in credit and identity theft.

About Identity Theft 911
Founded in 2003, Identity Theft 911 is the nation’s premier consultative provider of identity and data risk management, resolution and education services. The company serves 13 million households across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country’s largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and credit unions and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company has helped more than 150,000 businesses manage data breaches. For more information, please visit www.idt911.com, www.facebook.com/idt911 and www.twitter.com/idt911.