LifeLock Enhances Identity Theft Benefit

According to one study, 13.1 million victims of fraud lost $15 billion in 2015.

In a world where fraud and identity theft is becoming a widespread issue, firms are enhancing technology to better protect data that could potentially deprive people of everything from paychecks to retirement savings. LifeLock is offering this protection as an employee benefit.

LifeLock Benefit Elite monitors 401(k) accounts and other investment accounts to detect potential fraud before bringing it to the attention of participants via email, text or phone.

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LifeLock recently added new features to this platform including Stolen Funds Reimbursement. According to a company statement, “If a LifeLock member does become a victim of identity theft, LifeLock protects their hard earned money with dollar for dollar reimbursement for lost funds up to $1 million for Benefit Elite membership. This includes everything from fraudulent bank and investment account withdrawals to fraudulently filed tax returns.”

Checking, Savings and Credit Card Account Activity Alerts will allow members to monitor these accounts in one place while receiving notifications for cash withdrawals, balance transfers and large purchases in order to help detect fraudulent activity.

The LifeLock Privacy Monitor tool is designed to help minimize public exposure of private and personal information such as names, birth dates, and addresses.

“With seemingly endless data breaches in the news, people are concerned about identity fraud,” says Terry Reams, general manager of employee benefit protection solutions at LifeLock. “For employees, this is especially worrisome when it comes to getting protection for their retirement and investment accounts. That’s why we’ve tailored Benefit Elite identity protection to meet their unique needs.”

A study by Javelin Strategy & Research showed that 13.1 million victims of fraud lost $15 billion in 2015. LifeLock also points to a recent study showing that nearly 70% of employers are projected to offer identity theft protection as a voluntary benefit by 2018.

According to the firm, LifeLock searches millions of transactions per second for potential threats to its members’ personal identity including suspicious uses of name, address, phone number, birth date, and Social Security number to obtain loans, credit and services, or to commit crimes.

A LifeLock company statement reads, “If an employee becomes a victim of identity theft while a LifeLock member, LifeLock will spend up to $1 million, if necessary, to hire the necessary lawyers, accountants and investigators to help with recovery. The benefits under the Service Guarantee are provided under a Master Insurance Policy underwritten by State National Insurance Company. As this is only a summary policy the terms and restrictions can be found at LifeLock.com/legal.”

LifeLock Benefit Elite is available to employees through employers only, and paid for either by the employer or as a voluntary benefit. To learn more about LifeLock Benefit Elite, visit the company’s Fact Sheet

Advisory Council Discusses Cyber Security Risk for Benefit Plans

In a report, the Council offers a framework for plan sponsors and providers to address cyber security issues.

A report suggests materials for plan sponsors, fiduciaries and service providers to utilize when developing a cybersecurity strategy and program in the form of the document included in the appendix of the report titled “Employee Benefit Plans:  Considerations for Navigating Cybersecurity Risks.” 

The 2016 ERISA Advisory Council observed that while cybersecurity is a focus area for organizations with regard to ongoing business activities, benefit plans often fall outside the scope of cybersecurity planning. Retirement plan sponsors and fiduciaries should consider cybersecurity in safeguarding benefit plan data and assets, as well as when making decisions to select or retain a service provider, the Council says.

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The Council recommended that the Department of Labor (DOL) make its report and its appendices available via the Department’s website as soon as administratively feasible to provide plan sponsors, fiduciaries and service providers with information about developing and maintaining a robust cyber risk management program for benefit plans. It also recommended the DOL provide information to the employee benefit plan community of plan sponsors, fiduciaries and service providers to educate them about cybersecurity risks and potential approaches for managing these risks. 

In its report, the Council noted that The SPARK Institute is in the process of establishing uniform data management standards for the defined contribution retirement plan market. This initiative has been driven by the fact that defined contribution providers are getting an increasing number of inquiries from clients and intermediaries regarding cybersecurity arrangements. SPARK has established a Data Security Oversight Board to oversee program development and implementation.

The Obama Administration, the Health Information Trust Alliance and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) have also put forth initiatives to address cyber security risk.

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