Credit Monitoring and Similar Services that Protect Small Business Owners and Others Deserve More Attention

(BOSTON, Mass. – Jan. 3, 2006 - IDTheftSecurity.com) Identity theft can be a catastrophe for small business owners, but credit monitoring and other solutions can ward off the crime or minimize the fallout that follows. According to Robert Siciliano, president of IDTheftSecurity.com, 2006 is already seeing reports that larger companies recognize the potential such services pose in helping small businesses and profit margins at the same time.

“Credit monitoring and other services protect the small business owner when thieves compromise her identity,” said Siciliano, an expert who presents identity theft workshops to Fortune 500 companies nationwide. “Other products can help civilians to track their identities and thwart beginning-stage thefts. These services all deserve attention.”

A report in the Jan. 1 issue of the Orlando Business Journal indicated that at least one company now sees the value in publicizing and offering identity theft protection services. According to the article, The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. has made identity theft insurance available on “all its new or renewed small business policies.”

Siciliano appeared on CNBC’s “On the Money” on Jan. 3 with representatives from Allstate Insurance to discuss credit monitoring and identity theft insurance.

“It’s time for industry to revisit its efforts to promote credit monitoring and similar services,” Siciliano continued. “For a long time, I’ve informed those who attend my identity theft workshops of the many products available to them. These services have existed for years. Many people are unaware of this, but I always encounter huge demand.”

Author of "The Safety Minute: 01" and an upcoming book, "Identity Theft Pandemic: Curing the Identity Theft Virus," Siciliano provides consumer education solutions to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. He said other, similar services, which he offers through his Web site, www.IDTheftSecurity.com, have been available for a while:

• MyPublicInfo, an Arlington, VA–based identity management company, provides the Public Information Profile (PIP), a tool that can be very useful in tracing the public “threads” that run through our lives. Anyone who obtains a PIP can view public records connected to his or her name and also see information accessible to other people performing background checks. Citizens can use their PIP, available at www.IDTheftSecurity.com, to make sure their identities are in order.

• Kroll Background America, the world’s leading risk-consulting company, provides the Identity Theft Shield^SM, available at www.IDTheftSecurity.com. The product includes continuous credit monitoring; access to Pre-Paid Legal Services^®, Inc., an affordable attorney service; and identity restoration assistance should the customer’s ever be stolen.

• MyPrivateLine (MPL) is a service offered by PrivateTel and available through www.MyPrivateLine.com. An identity thief can learn a great deal from little information. This information could be as simple as a phone number. MPL ensures the last bit of privacy protecting a phone user’s identity. A single person can use MPL when communicating via phone through online social sites. Business owners can use MPL, too, when they want to list untraceable toll-free phone numbers for classified ads.

“News reports about the suspected theft of millions of identities last year gave the impression that consumers were helpless,” Siciliano said. “Yet the best bulwark against identity theft is indeed the consumer. We need to educate consumers on what’s available to them to stop this crime where the rubber meets the road.”

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Identity theft affects us all, which is why Robert Siciliano, president of IDTheftSecurity.com, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. A leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, “The Suze Orman Show,” “ABC News with Sam Donaldson,” “The Montel Williams Show,” “Maury Povich,” “Sally Jesse Raphael,” and “The Howard Stern Show.”

The media may reach Siciliano at 1 (888) SICILIANO (742-4542). Visit his Web site, www.IDTheftSecurity.com, or his blog, www.IDTheftSecurity.blogspot.com. Siciliano’s full contact information follows:

Robert Siciliano

Personal Security Expert

PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)

FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)

E-MAIL: Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com

http://www.idtheftsecurity.com/

The media are encouraged to get in touch with Siciliano directly. They may also contact:

Brent W. Skinner, President

STETrevisions

PHONE: 617-875-4859

FAX: 866-663-6557

E-MAIL: BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com

http://www.STETrevisions.biz/stet.html