PRESS RELEASE


Identity Protection Service Has New Feature

Automated Fraud Alert Service Now Available Free of Charge to Intersections Customers

CHANTILLY, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intersections Inc. (NASDAQ:INTX - News), the leading provider of identity theft services protecting over 7 million customers in the United States and Canada, announced today that customers of its family of IDENTITY GUARD® identity theft protection services can now use an automated web service to place fraud alerts at no additional charge. Intersections will make this service available to most of its private label clients and their customers in the near future.

Fraud alerts are a consumer protection mandated by the federal government, and offered free of charge by the three major nationwide credit reporting agencies. A fraud alert is a tool for people who have had their identities stolen – or who suspect they may be victims of identity fraud – according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

“It’s important to stress that fraud alerts are only a single component in protecting your identity from thieves, and have limited use as a standalone preventative tool,” said Michael Stanfield, Intersections’ Chief Executive Officer. “Fraud alerts are best deployed as a supplemental tool consumers can use to help prevent credit related identity theft, and we believe they should be easily and economically accessible.”

Identity thieves have become sophisticated professional criminals, according to Tim Walston, who manages Intersections’ IDENTITY GUARD® direct to consumer business. “Protecting yourself from identity theft requires much more than taking advantage of federally mandated free consumer protections, such as annual free credit reports and fraud alerts. Consumers need additional layers of protection to provide greater security, especially from non-credit related forms of identity theft.” Walston explains. He says consumers concerned about identity theft should have multiple layers of protection in place in addition to the federally mandated benefits, including:

quarterly review their credit bureau files at all three major nationwide credit reporting agencies.

daily monitoring and alerts for new activity on their credit bureau files.

monitoring of the types of new non financial accounts used by fraudsters.

daily internet surveillance to detect potential exposure of personal confidential information to identity thieves.

toll free access to experienced credit education specialists to answer any questions regarding their credit bureau files or activity.

recovery services that help consumers to restore their good names following an incident of identity theft.

an insured plan to reimburse consumers for the out-of-pocket costs associated with an instance of identity theft.

appropriate software to protect themselves and their computers from malware and other malicious electronic and software tools employed by thieves.

IDENTITY GUARD® currently offers all of these features with its Total Protection service. Additional products offer various protection levels to match the consumer’s lifestyle, desired protection level and pocketbook.

The FTC’s Identity Theft Site cautions consumers about the limitations of fraud alerts, noting: “While a fraud alert can help keep an identity thief from opening new accounts in your name, it’s not a solution to all types of identity theft. It will not protect you from an identity thief using your existing credit cards or other accounts. It also will not protect you from an identity thief opening new accounts in your name that do not require a credit check – such as a telephone, wireless, or bank account. And, if there’s identity theft already going on when you place the fraud alert, the fraud alert alone won’t stop it. A fraud alert, however, can be extremely useful in stopping identity theft that involves opening a new line of credit.”

For more information about multiple levels of identity theft protection, or to learn more about pros and cons of fraud alerts, consumers can visit IdentityGuard.

About Intersections Inc.

Intersections Inc. (NASDAQ:INTX - News) is a leading provider of branded and fully customized identity management solutions. By integrating its technology solutions with its comprehensive services, Intersections safeguards more than 7 million customers, who are primarily obtained through marketing partnerships and consumer-direct marketing of the company’s IDENTITY GUARD® brand. Intersections also provides consumer-oriented insurance and membership products through marketing partnerships with the major mortgage servicers in the United States as well as other financial institutions through its subsidiary, Intersections Insurance Services Inc. Additionally, through majority-owned Screening International LLC, Intersections provides pre-employment background screening services domestically and internationally in partnership with Control Risks Group Limited of the United Kingdom.



SOURCE: Intersections Inc.