Common Sense Tactics and Vigilance Are Key to Protecting Consumer Identities and Financial Assets Against Identity Thieves
Intersections Inc., a Sixteen Year Veteran of Consumer Identity Theft Protection Services, Issues Second Edition of Identity Guard® eBook to Help Educate Consumers About Identity Theft During National Cyber Security Awareness Month
CHANTILLY, Va., Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq: INTX), a leading provider of consumer and corporate identity theft risk management services that has protected 33 million consumers, today announced the release of its second edition IDENTITY GUARD® eBook, "Double Trouble," that provides consumers with an in-depth guide to identity theft prevention, including real-world scenarios where identity theft is common.
"Breaches continue to be a regular occurrence, and with that more consumers are exposed to the threats of identity theft. The best way to address this and any threat is through education, information and proactive vigilance. That has been a main focus of Intersections for well over a decade. The IDENTITY GUARD® eBook is a free resource available to consumers interested in learning more about how identity theft occurs and what can be done to proactively protect themselves," said Steve Schwartz, Intersections' Executive Vice President of Consumer Services.
"We need to use every opportunity to educate the general public about the potential risks and threats associated with identity theft," said Neal O'Farrell, the eBook author, and Consumer Security Advisor for Intersections Inc. "Consumers need to be aware and vigilant about their risks and how their actions can make them more vulnerable to identity theft."
As a sequel to the first "Double Trouble," the second edition of the eBook aims to update consumers on the current threats and methods criminals are using to steal personal information. With the onslaught of social media networks and platforms, consumers are finding themselves caught between a world where sharing personal information online is both necessary and detrimental. In the IDENTITY GUARD® eBook, consumers will learn important tips and tools to safely interact online.
Excerpt from Chapter 3:
"We're now more than a decade into the epidemic of identity theft and while we've won a lot of battles, the bad guys are still winning the war. Identity theft is not only the fastest growing crime in America, it's also one of the most lucrative, and has attracted criminal elements from across the globe hoping to make a quick buck from unsuspecting victims."
The statistics paint a pretty grim picture:
-- An average of 30,000 Americans fall victim to identity theft every
single day. (1)
-- 8.5 billion phishing emails are sent across the Internet every month,
tricking millions of victims out of billions of dollars (2).
-- More than 90 percent of all email sent every day is spam and most of it
fraudulent. (3)
-- There are more than 10 million different types of computer viruses,
spyware, Trojans and other malware in circulation, most of it focused on
identity theft and fraud." (4)
Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq: INTX) is a leading provider of consumer and corporate identity risk management services. Intersections provides various levels of service to more than 9.6 million consumers. Those services are offered through North America's leading financial institutions, directly to consumers under Intersections' award-winning IDENTITY GUARD® brand (http://www.identityguard.com/), and through the company's exclusive partnership with ITAC, the Identity Theft Assistance Center. Since 1996, Intersections has protected the identities of more than 33 million consumers.
For advice, opinions, and the latest news on identity theft for consumers, visit http://www.IDGuardian.com. Twitter handle: IDGuardian.