LifeLock Advocate Newsletter Winter 2009
IN THIS ISSUE The New LifeLock Identity Alert System Tips to Avoid Identity Theft Scams Identity Theft Terms Identity Theft Statistics Download Printer-Friendly Newsletter
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It’s a fact. Tactics employed by identity criminals continue to evolve. That’s why LifeLock dedicates our expert resources to provide you the most advanced and comprehensive identity theft protection available. In an effort to offer you ever-increasing levels of protection, we have automatically upgraded your membership to our enhanced LifeLock Identity Alert™ system—at no additional cost.

Independent of credit reports and credit bureaus, our innovative LifeLock Identity Alert™ system utilizes many unique data sources to provide you broader protection, detecting both credit and non-credit related identity threats, as well as cases of synthetic fraud (see Identity Theft Terms). Anytime we detect your personal information being used to apply for many forms of credit cards, wireless services, retail credit, utilities, check orders/reorders, mortgage loans, auto loans, and non-credit related payday loans, we’ll notify you and help you resolve fraudulent applications. The LifeLock Identity Alert™ system also monitors applications for your individual identity elements to help stop perpetrators from secretly misusing your identity.

To learn more about our newly enhanced service, or to find out about all of the tools LifeLock uses to protect your good name, visit www.lifelock.com. Enjoy this issue of the LifeLock Advocate.

Todd Davis
Todd Davis, CEO

One Last Note:
Help raise awareness about identity theft by sharing the information in this newsletter with your family and friends. It may just help them avoid becoming the next victim. If you wish to stay current and choose to receive the LifeLock Advocate by email every quarter just visit our subscription page at www.lifelock.com/subscribe.

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The New LifeLock Identity Alert™ System
How It Works
Our advanced LifeLock Identity Alert™ system provides you broader identity coverage, greater control, and early notification of potential identity threats. We alert you by email, postal mail, and/or phone whenever we detect your personal information being used to apply for many forms of credit cards, wireless services, retail credit, utilities, check orders/reorders, mortgage loans, auto loans, and non-credit related payday loans. If the application is fraudulent, our remediation team will take action.

Keeping your profile contact information up-to-date ensures that you receive alerts in a timely manner. Manage your account online - visit www.lifelock.com/mylifelock through myLifeLock at www.LifeLock.com and click the "Manage Account" tab at the top of your screen. Then select "Update Account Information" on the left hand side.

Please note: In urgent cases we will also contact you by phone with instructions to verify the application immediately by calling 1-800-LIFELOCK (543-3562).

What About Fraud Alerts?
While fraud alerts have played an important part in the protection we've provided our members, they are limited to only alerting you to thefts where a credit check is required. That's why LifeLock has chosen to eliminate the process of requesting fraud alerts and has instead upgraded all our members to our enhanced LifeLock Identity Alert™ system. If you have a good faith suspicion that you have been, or are about to become a victim of identity theft, and you wish to maintain fraud alerts on your own, you can do so by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus.

Remember, fraud alerts expire and must be reset every 90 days. To have LifeLock send you a 90-Day Fraud Alert Reminder via email, visit www.lifelock.com/subscribe.

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Tips to Avoid Identity Theft Scams

Every day, identity criminals devise new scams that target your personal information. They work diligently to engineer deceptive and misleading websites, letters, emails, and phone call scripts to successfully lure unsuspecting victims into providing sensitive information e.g. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers. It is important that you stay vigilant and well-informed so that you know how to protect yourself.

1. BE SUSPICIOUS.
Most organizations will not ask you for your sensitive information during an unsolicited phone call. If a caller does ask for your information, be suspicious!

2. NEVER PROVIDE SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO UNSOLICITED CALLERS.
Sensitive information includes your Social Security number, your credit card or debit card numbers, your birth date or birthplace, your vehicle registration plate number, and any other information you wish to keep private. If a caller asks for this information, do not share your information with them. If you are unsure, hang up and contact the company or organization directly.

3. ACCESS IMPORTANT WEBSITES DIRECTLY.
It's best to access a website directly rather than following a link to the site. Identity criminals design fake websites to look exactly like legitimate websites, from reputable companies, to steal information from unsuspecting victims.

4. BE WARY OF WEBSITES THAT ASK FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
Always try to find the security icon (a locked padlock or unbroken key symbol) in the browser window and bottom border or check to see if the website begins with 'https://' If the website provides these symbols of protection, it is typically secure.

5. RESEARCH THE VALIDITY OF AN UNKNOWN COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION.
If you are ever contacted by an unknown company or organization, attempt to verify the legitimacy of the group in question by checking their website or using various Internet-based resources.

6. CHANGE ACCOUNT PASSWORDS REGULARLY.
It is important that you regularly change and use difficult passwords. Also, try not to use the same password for your various online accounts. Changing passwords and keeping them unique will increase security and make it difficult for an unauthorized user to gain access your private accounts.

7. IF IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT IS.
It is an old rule that holds especially true online. Unexpected awards, whether money or prizes, are more likely to be a scam - a way to record your personal information. If the caller or letter asks you to pay a fee or provide bank account information, or if you cannot recall entering a drawing or buying a lottery ticket, it may be too good to be true.

Protecting your identity requires that you stay up-to-date with the latest scam tactics. And staying up-to-date is easy with Scam Alerts from LifeLock.

Simply update your Communication Preferences through your account management tab at www.lifelock.com/mylifelock.

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Symantec + LifeLock

The leaders in protection are teaming up to give LifeLock members like you a limited-time offer on Norton 360 All-in-One Security. Symantec's Norton products protect consumers from traditional threats with antivirus, anti-spam and spyware protection, as well as from bots, drive-by downloads and identity theft-- while also being light on system resources. It is automated, comprehensive protection for your PC and online activities, 24/7.

Visit Norton.LifeLock.com/360 now to save $30 on Norton 360 Version 3.0 with a special mail-in rebate offer only for LifeLock members.

Give Them Protection
You understand the importance of protecting your identity. But what about your family and friends? Now you can give the gift of protection with LifeLock Gift Certificates. Remember, anyone can be a target for identity theft. Their personal information is out there. Help them protect what's most important. Visit http://gift.lifelock.com and give the gift of protection - just in time for the holidays.

Identity Theft Terms

Synthetic Identity Fraud
Synthetic identity fraud is a difficult to detect form of fraud that is quickly becoming the dominant choice for identity thieves. Unlike traditional true-name identity fraud (fraud in which a criminal uses a victim's identity in it's entirety), synthetic identity fraud is often committed by creating a fictional identity using a victim's real Social Security number along with other pieces of real and fabricated identity information.

Because credit reporting agencies allow for partial matches of identity information, fraud alerts and credit monitoring often don't detect this form of fraud, and thieves can use a stolen Social Security number to apply for lines of credit, obtain jobs, file tax returns, open utility accounts, and more, all while avoiding detection by traditional methods.

Fortunately, our advanced LifeLock Identity Alert™ system monitors many forms of credit and service applications for your individual identity elements. If we find a match on any of the information you've provided us, we'll notify you and help you stop perpetrators from secretly misusing your identity.

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Identity Theft Statistics

3,097 Applications have been stopped due to our new LifeLock Identity Alert™ System thus far.*

118,537 Total number of alerts that have been sent due to our proactive new LifeLock Identity Alert™ System thus far.*

*as of 11.19.09

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PLEASE NOTE: LifeLock does not engage in outbound telemarketing and will not attempt to collect personal financial or identification information through an outbound telephone call. When LifeLock does call individuals it is to alert them of activity on their accounts (as in the case of an eRecon or TrueAddress alert) - these calls are for NOTIFICATION purposes only. For your protection, if we need to collect information, we will always ask you to contact us at 1-800-LifeLock (1-800-543-3562) or provide your information via your 'myLifeLock' account management page on www.lifelock.com.


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