Lionheart Assurance Solutions has some critical news about a new identity theft scam known as spear phishing. While most people who work on the Internet have learned about phishing, which is the use of fraudulent emails to get personal information for use in identity theft, few have heard about spear phishing.

Phishing is spamming hundreds of thousands of people with a single email. The scam artist is hoping for a few people to take the bait when they open the email. However, spear fishing is a completely new variation on the phishing scam. It is also much more effective and dangerous. By sending a single email to a single person, the email is highly targeted, and because it includes personalized information, it seems completely authentic.

The Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit recommends the following 5 precautions when opening your email:

1. Do not view or download any attachments sent to you by someone you do not know.

2. Similarly, do not click through a link in an email from someone you do not know.

3. Sometimes a letter from a friend or co-worker may not actually be from them but from someone who has replicated their email address. There is special software that can steal email addresses from out of your address book and then appear to send the email from that person. Be very suspicious if people you know start making unusual requests of you.

4. Again, do not view or download an attachment, even from people you know unless you’re actually expecting it.

5. If you do respond to a spear phishing email, keep an eye on your credit report or your bank balance and take immediate action to notify those concerned if you detect anything unusual.

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Lionheart Assurance Solutions also recommends that you turn all of these aforementioned precautions into new habits, which should become as familiar to you as locking your car door when leaving it out on the street.

About Lionheart Assurance Solutions & The Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit

Lionheart Assurance Solutions is a consulting company that has mentored hundreds of companies on information security and identity theft issues. Lionheart Assurance Solutions is focused on helping people reduce the likelihood of becoming a target of identity theft scams. This consulting organization has been a champion in the war to fight identity theft since 2003.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions’ team consists of professional business consultants with regional offices throughout the US who specialize in offering unique employee benefits, identity theft education and identity theft risk mitigation. Lionheart Assurance Solutions – through the Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit – champions ways to better inform the public and their clients on how to mitigate the risks associated with identity theft.

In 2009, Lionheart Assurance Solutions launched the Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit in response to the growing concerns within the business community to stay on the cutting edge of the most recent scams perpetrated by identity scammers.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions offers support to businesses of all sizes and they work to enhance identity theft awareness training and employee benefit programs.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions is working with companies to reduce the likelihood of identity theft scams.

This scam uses the database of companies to extract personal information related to employees or customers. Company employees often fall for this scam because they don’t realize how valuable this information is in the wrong hands.

Here is how an identity theft scam can happen:

• An unguarded paper file or a computer without password protection is accessed by an unscrupulous person.
• The file is copied, either with a photocopy machine or onto a computer disc or flash drive.
• The information is used to open up a credit card, get a bank loan, or conduct some other criminal offense using the stolen personal information.
• The identity theft victim only becomes aware of the crime when they start getting bills for things that they did not buy or even arrested for a crime that they did not commit.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions recommends taking note of the following 5 questions to ask in your organization that might reveal such a scam.

1. Does the person accessing an employee file have the authorization? For example, a department manager may have to look up an employee’s file to decide if they have any disqualifications for getting a proposed raise.
2. Is the file left open on a desk or on a computer screen where others can see it and copy the information down?
3. After the file has been read, is it put away in a locked file cabinet or has the computer been password protected?
4. Is the personal information discussed with others who do not need to know about it in the normal course of business?
5. Are copies being made of the personal information?

Lionheart Assurance provides employee education on how to reduce identity theft. They provide training to employees of an organization on the many ways identity theft can happen and suggest ways that the risk can be reduced. However, Lionheart Assurance Solutions cannot fully protect, avoid, or prevent identity theft or any other crime. Lionheart Assurance Solutions released the Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit in 2009 in order to bolster awareness of scams perpetrated by identity scams.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions is alerting people about Facebook scams to steal personal information. This business consulting and training company is helping consumers protect themselves by revealing the details of how this scam is pulled off because once personal information is stolen it can be used for identity theft. People using Facebook may accidentally fall for this scam because they don’t realize how vulnerable they are to online predators. Usually, they don’t realize that they have been scammed until long after the crime has happened.

The Anatomy Of The Facebook Scam

The scam is known as “phishing,” which sounds like “fishing.” Fishing is exactly what a scammer does—fishing for personal information.

• Here is how the famous “London scam” works in five steps:
• A scammer gets access to the account of your trusted friend.
• The scammer opens up a Facebook chat and poses as your friend.
• They complain that they were on a trip to London when they were robbed.
• They ask for help because they are now stranded in London.
• They convince you that if you wire them some money, they will be able to get back home.

Today, variations of the scam are now happening all over the world.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions recommends the following 5 things to do before opening up a Facebook account.

1. Don’t put any personal information in your profile page that could be used for identity theft purposes.
2. When posting comments or adding a link to your Facebook page, don’t offer personal clues that could be used against you.
3. Only make friends with people you trust.
4. When opening up a chat, verify the person’s identity.
5. Don’t respond to queries for more personal information and never send money.

Lionheart Assurance Scam Prevention Toolkit also recommends submitting phishing issues to privacy@facebook.com

Started in 1997, Lionheart Assurance Solutions is helping businesses combat identity theft. Lionheart Assurance Solutions can provide businesses and consumers with useful information about identity theft, but it can’t fully protect, avoid, or prevent identity theft or any other crime. Lionheart Assurance Solutions released the Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit in 2009 in order to enhance awareness of scams perpetrated by identity thieves.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions is cautioning companies with a website about online credit card fraud. Besides their office or storefront, many companies also have a website to sell their services or products. While this adds to their bottom line, it also poses a potential problem.

Scammers use one of two methods to defraud merchants online.

One method is to use fictitious numbers that imitate the algorithms produced by authentic credit card numbers. These numbers pass authentication and get authorization codes.

The other method is to buy stolen credit card information from a newsgroup and use these fake credentials to buy a merchant’s products online.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions recommends the following 5 action steps related to this scam.

1. Refuse to accept an order unless there is full verification of address and telephone numbers.

2. If the billing field is different from the shipping field on the online order form, the customer should fax their signature and credit card number before the transaction is authorized.

3. If the verification address uses a free email service that anyone can open within minutes, pay attention. Although a legitimate order can come from a free email address, it also opens the door for the use of a fake credit card number. Such an order necessitates more concern and consideration.

4. An order that is much larger than the typical amounts customers order is suspicious.

5. International orders must have the same billing and shipping address.

The Lionheart Assurance Scam Prevention Toolkit Also Recommends:

If an order has a different billing and shipping address, comes from a free email service, or is larger than typical order quantities, pick up the telephone and speak to the customer to confirm the transaction.

Started in 1997, Lionheart Assurance Solutions is a business consulting company that focuses on reducing the likelihood of identity theft. They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. They educate companies on how identity theft can occur and suggest ways that a business can be proactive about protecting sensitive information. Lionheart Assurance Solutions released the Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit in 2009 in order to enhance awareness of scams perpetrated by identity thieves.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions helps businesses raise awareness about identity theft. Besides getting information about people working in a business and stealing their personal information, a scammer can also get enough information about a business to begin using a corporate credit card.

This information can be stolen in many ways. Here, for example, is one possible scenario:

After buying a client a meal, a company executive hands the corporate credit card to the waiter. The credit card is taken into the backroom and then returned. When the credit card was out of sight, all the information on it could have been copied.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions recommends the following 5 ways to protect a corporate credit card.

1. When a company opens up a credit card account, it should use a unique password. This verification information should be unique, not something that can be found by going through routine company documents.
2. Question the authority of the person requesting the information about the credit card. Does the person asking for information have a valid need to know it?
3. Avoid putting credit card numbers on forms or checks. If someone is calling on behalf of the company, make sure they are an authorized user of the credit card, not any available employee who has been delegated the task of calling a vendor to order merchandise.
4. Check the billing statements every month to make sure that only authorized charges have been made. If the billing statement itself does not come, someone could have made a fraudulent change of address.
5. Once a year, or more often, read through a credit card report from Equifax, Experian, and/or TransUnion.

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If you believe that the corporate credit card has been used in a way that can’t be explained by the authorized users, then:

1. Contact the credit card company immediately (this limits liability).
2. Contact the fraud departments of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
3. Contact the creditors.
4. File a report with the local police department.

Although Lionheart Assurance Solutions cannot protect, avoid, or prevent identity theft or any other crime, they can alert their customers on ways to improve their information security. Lionheart Assurance Solutions released the Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit in 2009 in order to enhance awareness of scams perpetrated by identity thieves.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions warns of the possibility of Internet auction fraud, even though this may make perfect business sense. For example, a company that uses the Internet to buy from vendors online may decide to use an online auction for a cheaper price.

Many auctions don’t verify the authenticity of the merchant and simply list the items that the seller has to offer. They don’t offer any guarantee that the seller will actually deliver the merchandise.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions recommends the following 5 ways to make sure that you buy products from an authentic merchant at an auction website.

1. Verify information about the seller as much as possible before making a bid. Besides reviewing the feedback columns, which may have been planted, also check with consumer protection agencies like the Better Business Bureau, as well as appropriate government agencies.

2. Try and get your supplies from a registered business selling at an auction rather than from an individual because consumer protection laws are not applicable to a private sale. A government agency will only take action if there are numerous complaints against a private seller.

3. Avoid buying merchandise from sellers in other countries because the differences in shipping procedures and legal systems may make it difficult to resolve a dispute if one arises.

4. Although it is illegal to use shills, bogus bidders who raise the price of an auction, this practice is still used – so be aware if there are people who bid much higher than appears reasonable.

5. Avoid doing business with a seller who will not verify address and contact numbers. A legitimate seller will not have any hesitation in disclosing their business address and business contact numbers in order to win your trust and earn your business.

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You should also get clear on the details of the delivery, the return policy, and any warranties that the seller may offer. Finally, ask that the merchandise be insured, especially if it involves electronic components.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions has been providing companies in North America with consulting information since 1997. Lionheart Assurance Solutions launched the Lionheart Assurance Solutions Scam Prevention Toolkit to increase awareness of scams perpetrated by identity thieves.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions

Lionheart Assurance Solutions, a consulting and training company founded in 1997, has earned an A+ rating for providing high quality services to numerous North American companies. Today one of their concerns is educating companies on data security. Without a system in place to protect personal information, a company risks a data breach. Often criminals target companies for identity theft because in the course of doing business, they are a rich repository of personal information that can be easily stolen. Sometimes this theft is difficult to trace because original documents can be photocopied and computer files can be copied to a CD or even copied and pasted into an email.

The Dangers To The Individual

Identity theft may not be noticed until after an identity theft victim is harassed by banks and credit card companies for repayment of an outstanding balance. Sometimes, too, the victim may even have to face prosecution for a crime that they did not commit but which was perpetuated under their name. The nature of these crimes can vary and may include drug trafficking, operating a sex trade, or even burglary, robbery, or murder.

In the event that a person’s identity is stolen, an individual with the benefits offered by Lionheart Assurance Solutions is not helpless when it comes to fighting back. Through the benefits offered by Lionheart Assurance Solutions, individuals are provided access to legal counsel as well as access to a licensed fraud investigator who will work on their behalf to restore their stolen identity. With these checks and balances in place in the war against identity theft, individuals can ease their mind and focus on the tasks at hand knowing that they have support as a result of the benefits provided by Lionheart Assurance Solutions.

The Dangers To A Company

Besides the dangers of identity theft for the individual, the company from which the information is stolen could face numerous repercussions, including being sued by the person whose identity was stolen, being exposed by the media for negligence in looking after employee information, and being faced with a government investigation for gross negligence. These problems could even financially ruin the company because it might lose its good reputation and market share.

How Lionheart Assurance Solutions Offers A Way To Guard The Gate Of Identity

One of the ways Lionheart Assurance Solutions raises the awareness about identity theft is through their comprehensive awareness and consulting programs. Apart from their benefit plans, Lionheart Assurance Solutions offers quality consulting related to ways of better securing sensitive personal company and client information.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions educate company managers and staff about the dangers of identity theft and suggest ways personal information can be handled in a more secure and responsible way. It also offers a payroll deduction plan for a company’s employees. Employees who enroll for this identity theft coverage can access credit monitoring, full identity restoration services, and legal counseling.

Visit Lionheart Assurance Solutions website for more information.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions Sees Scams Rising

Lionheart Assurance Solutions has noted a rise in the number of scams related to stolen personal information over the past 5-7 years. The company is bringing today’s most advanced identity theft coverage to the masses through a unique identity theft benefits package. These benefit packages are offered to employees of a client company.

Empowering Employees To Monitor Personal Information And Fight Back Against Identity Theft

The unique benefits package allows employees to fight back against the possibility of identity theft. The benefits are paid for through payroll deduction. Those who enroll in the Lionheart Assurance Solutions employee benefits package to reduce the incidence of identity theft can stay alert to their credit for unusual activity indicative of a stolen identity. The around the clock credit monitoring gives them peace of mind. Moreover, in the event that a fraudulent scam or ripoff artist compromises an individual’s personal information, they can take immediate steps through legal counsel and through the assistance of a Licensed Fraud Investigator offered directly through the identity theft restoration service, who will work tirelessly and on the behalf of a person who has been compromised.

The Detailed Benefits Of The Unique Package

The Lionheart Assurance Solutions identity theft coverage is available to individual employees, offering them individualized benefits. The coverage creates a mechanism for employees. It is not the company that gets the coverage, but the employees themselves. This is an optional enrollment program made available by the company. Those who choose to participate can keep an eye on their credit history because scam artists likely to use the stolen personal information to open up a credit card under the new identity. In the event of identity theft, participants, as part of their membership, can also talk to a lawyer and obtain the services of a Licensed Fraud Investigator who will provide full service identity theft restoration.

The Lionheart Assurance Solutions Senior Management Training Team

The unique benefits package is a result of the ideas put together by the senior management team at Lionheart Assurance Solutions. This team has the combined business experience of more than a century. Some members of the Lionheart Assurance Solutions team have senior executive leadership experience in some of the nation’s largest and most prestigious companies.

Visit Lionheart Assurance Solutions website for more information.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions Says Fraud Is Increasing

With the recession in the United States resulting in many companies closing down or reducing the number of people employed, many people have been forced into a situation of financial desperation. This has resulted in an increase in fraud. One way of perpetuating fraud is by using a stolen identity to get financing from a lending institution. This false information checks out with the lending institutions because it is based on actual personal information. The lending institutions have no way of knowing that this personal information has been stolen.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions, a consulting and coaching firm established in 1997, has noted this trending rise in identity theft and has taken active measures to help companies fight back. Their senior management team, recruited from the ranks of some of America’s largest and most successful companies, has assembled an identity theft awareness program and an identity theft benefits coverage program designed to foster better informational security.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions Identity Theft Awareness Program

Changing the way a company and its staff think about personal information has helped combat identity theft. Through consulting with staff members and offering coaching programs, Lionheart Assurance Solutions has helped raise awareness in companies about the dangers of identity theft. These trainings suggest the many ways a company can secure its databases from unauthorized access.

Identity Theft Benefits Coverage Program

Through payroll deductions that cost each employee less than a cup of coffee a day, Lionheart Assurance Solutions is able to offer a benefits package to help employees in a company. This coverage is a mechanism by which employees can keep an eye on their own credit around the clock. In addition, should their identity be stolen, an employee is able to utilize full identity restoration services, and speak with a licensed fraud investigator as well as specialist attorney.

Visit Lionheart Assurance Solutions website for more information.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions

Lionheart Assurance Solutions works with companies to assist in mitigating risks associated with identity theft and to offer employee benefits that can lead to improvements in employee productivity and reductions in lost work time. The nationwide team of consultants first begins by identifying potential areas of need related to how the client company operates their business. One of the things that they often find necessary to discuss with the CEO of the company is the need to protect personal sensitive data. Unless a company has information security checks in place when employees are handling sensitive personal data like social security numbers, the company could be at risk. The possibility exists for data breaches leading to identity theft and potential investigations related to compromised confidential information.

Noting the rise in this type of information leak, Lionheart Assurance Solutions utilizes a two-fold program related to identity theft:

One part of the program is creating a mechanism for employees to have personal identity theft restoration coverage. Through payroll deduction benefits, an employee can purchase round the clock credit monitoring, access to legal counsel, and identity restoration. This gives the employee peace of mind in the event that identity theft does occur.

Another part of the program is assisting in the formation of an ongoing initiative for employers to safeguard employee and customer personal information in the workplace. For example, if someone in human resources were to leave employee files with sensitive information on the desk and leave the room for lunch, anyone entering the office could gain access to that information. Similarly, leaving computer programs unguarded, with no password protection, or leaving file cabinet unlocked, are all ways that sensitive personal data could get in the wrong hands. Careless handling of receipts and log books are other ways personal information can be stolen. By helping a company identify various ways that personal sensitive data is not secured, Lionheart Assurance Solutions provides valuable assistance designed to reduce the likelihood that a company would be found lacking in information security.

Lionheart Assurance Solutions conducts a variety of trainings to raise employee awareness about the many ways identity theft can occur. These training sessions provide an important education for employees and help to safeguard the company itself. The sessions are designed to make those employees who have access to personal information more aware of how to protect that information. With such awareness training and access to innovative employee benefits, employees can get the best coverage available while employers implement the best practices to keep sensitive information confidential.

These identity theft programs are tailored for each company to meet their unique needs and implemented at no direct cost to the client company.