Identity Theft 911, a leading provider of identity theft education, defence, and resolution services, and AIG Affinity Group Services, a division of American International Group, Inc. (AIG), the world's leading international insurance and financial services organization, are working together to help individual consumers, enterprise customers, and financial institutions to deal with the growing problem of identity theft.
Nearly 10 million Americans became victims of identity theft last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission — a 41 percent increase over the year before — making identity theft the fastest growing crime in the U.S.(1) Victims of this crime quickly discover that restoring their name and good credit is a complex, time-consuming, and expensive process.
In response to this crisis, AIG Affinity Group Services has developed a product, available through Identity Theft 911, providing personal identity coverage. The AIG Personal Internet and Identity Coverage[SM] provides expert assistance and up to $25,000 in coverage for financial relief for identity restoration costs, legal defence expenses, and lost wages (for up to four weeks at up to $500 per week), with a zero deductible. Crisis resolution is handled by Identity Theft 911. Principal benefits include:
Comprehensive Customer Service — In the event of identity theft, customers receive unparalleled service from the highly trained specialists at Identity Theft 911, who guide them through the process of restoring their identity profiles and credit records.
A personal advocate is assigned when the customer first calls and works with the customer one-on-one throughout the resolution process. Comprehensive notification. The advocate creates all needed documents and guides the customer through a systematic process for notifying relevant agencies and institutions. Case file creation. The Identity Theft 911 advocate will create and continually update a comprehensive record of the customer's case. Post-resolution follow-up. Once the crisis is over, Identity Theft 911 stays with the customer for a full year — providing pertinent, timely communications, fraud alerts, and follow-up phone calls to check status. Identity Restoration Costs — Identity theft victims incur a variety of fees when trying to restore their identities. The AIG Personal Internet and Identity Coverage[SM] insurance policy reimburses victims for re-filing loans, grants, or other credit applications that were rejected as a result of their stolen identity event. In addition, victims are reimbursed for notarising affidavits, long distance phone calls, tolls, and postage costs related to the event. Within twelve months of his or her identity being stolen, a victim may also order up to six credit reports, up to two reports from each major bureau, in order to verify that the identity has been restored.
Lost Wages — Victims of identity theft typically spend 175 hours restoring their good name, talking to police as well as dealing with creditors. The emotional strain on victims also may result in lost hours from work. The AIG Personal Internet and Identity CoverageSM policy compensates the victim for up to four weeks of lost wages within 12 months after the stolen identity event.
Identity Theft 911 will offer the AIG Personal Internet and Identity Coverage[SM] policy as a fundamental element of its Identity Lock™ Defence Package, a comprehensive suite of products and services combining defensive measures against identity theft, alerts and education to help consumers avoid it, and one-on-one crisis resolution for victims of identity theft. The Identity Lock Defence Package includes:
Identity theft insurance from AIG Affinity Group Services that provides financial relief for identity restoration costs, legal defence expenses, and lost wages (2) An educational package incorporating fraud alerts, in-depth articles, an online knowledge base, and the Identity Theft 911 Newsletter One-on-one crisis resolution services for victims of identity theft and related crimes "Identity Theft 911 offers a unique set of services to assist individuals before and after an identity theft," said Nancy Callahan, Vice President of AIG Affinity Group Services. "The AIG Personal Internet and Identity Coverage[SM] compliments the preventative and restorative services of Identity Theft 911 to help consumers protect themselves against the growing and invasive crime of identity theft."
"Government agencies, law enforcement authorities, and fraud protection organizations all see the grave danger identity theft represents for our society," said Adam Levin, Identity Theft 911 Chairman and former director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. "Consumers and businesses are very much at risk. The collaboration between Identity Theft 911 and AIG makes protecting them a top priority."
"The nature of identity theft makes it essential to attack this crime throughout its entire life cycle, with preventive services for targets of identity theft as well as vigorous, professional advocacy and support for those who have been hit," added Steve Christenson, CEO of Identity Theft 911. "Both consumers and businesses are beginning to understand the complexity and severity of the threat that identity theft presents. We at Identity Theft 911 look forward to working closely with AIG to provide effective solutions for all those affected by this heinous crime."
About Identity Theft 911
Identity Theft 911 provides one-on-one counselling, strategies, and resources to victims and potential targets of identity theft. Combining a personal focus with a comprehensive nationwide resource network, the company helps individuals, enterprises, financial institutions and other credit providers, and law enforcement to deal with the devastating effects of this crime.
Identity Theft 911 gives victims what they need most: personal, expert guidance through the complex process of resolving their crisis. The company, independently or through its strategic partners, also helps potential targets to identify vulnerabilities and secure their defences with a suite of products and services that includes credit monitoring, identity fraud insurance, secure mailboxes, cyber security solutions, and its Identity Lock™ Defence Package. Its website, www.identitytheft911.com, provides the latest information on this complex topic, from new legislation to fraud alerts and breaking news.
About AIG Affinity Group Services
AIG Affinity Group Services, a division of American International Companies?, customizes distribution programs for AIG member companies and corporate clients. American International Companies are the member companies of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). AIG is the world's leading international insurance and financial services organization, with operations in approximately 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG member companies serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any insurer.
About AIG
AIG is the world's leading international insurance and financial services organization, with operations in approximately 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG member companies serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any insurer. In the United States, AIG companies are the largest underwriters of commercial and industrial insurance and AIG American General is a top-ranked life insurer. AIG's global businesses also include financial services, retirement services and asset management. AIG's financial services businesses include aircraft leasing, financial products, trading and market making. AIG's growing global consumer finance business is led in the United States by American General Finance. AIG also has one of the largest U.S. retirement services businesses through AIG SunAmerica and AIG VALIC, and is a leader in asset management for the individual and institutional markets, with specialized investment management capabilities in equities, fixed income, alternative investments and real estate. AIG's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the stock exchanges in London, Paris, Switzerland and Tokyo.
Data: Federal Trade Commission
Insurance underwritten by member companies of American International Group, Inc. The description herein is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for complete details of coverage and exclusions. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
