![]() LifeLock, the well-known, heavily advertised identity theft protection services company, is being sued by its own shareholders, the law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP announced on July 27. The complaint alleges that LifeLock and certain of its executive officers made a series of false and/or misleading statements to investors, and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations and prospects. Specifically, the defendants are alleged to have made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose, among other things: (1) that the Company had failed to establish and maintain a comprehensive information security program to protect its users' sensitive personal data, including credit card, social security, and bank account numbers; (2) that the Company falsely advertised that it protected consumers' sensitive data with the same high-level safeguards as financial institutions; (3) that the Company failed to meet the 2010 settlement order's recordkeeping requirements; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company's statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. Read the law firm's complete press release at CNN Money.... Last week, the Federal Trade Commission re-opened an investigation into LifeLock's fraudulent activities after the company failed to honor 2010 court order to repay its clients $12 million.
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![]() In this video, Oberthur Technologies North America President Martin Ferenczi discusses identity theft and credit card solutions. He speaks on "Market Makers." This new "Chip and PIN" technology will provide a high degree of confidence that your card cannot be counterfeited," he says. When asked why it has taken over 10 years for this technology to start being used in the United States when it has long been used in other countries, Ferenczi replies, "because it wasn't born in the United States." A second reason is that the U.S. has far better communication systems than other countries; therefore our online financial transaction security systems have been relatively more secure than in other nations. Click here to watch this 3:30 minute video at Bloomberg.com. ![]() Cybersecurity experts say it's possible people who have fallen for an online scam involving a bogus coupon from supermarket giant Publix, may have opened themselves up to identity theft. Publix says a $100 discount offer making its way around social media sites is not real. "It looks exactly like the four and five dollar coupons that I usually get," said Rebecca Sedita, a loyal Publix customer who opened the fake coupon link on Facebook this past Sunday. And she is not alone. Read more at WTSP-TV.... Protect yourself from identity theft with IDShield. ![]() Starting a successful business takes time, money, patience, determination and a healthy dose of luck. Getting off to a good start means being prepared for any number of challenges. If you are a small business owner or are planning to start a new business, these tips may help put you on the path to success. If you have any questions, contact your LegalShield provider law firm today. 1. Business Plan - Every business should start with a well crafted business plan. Your plan should cover basic topics such as your company’s goals, management structure, services/products, target clients and marketing strategies. A business plan provides internal guidance and increases external confidence in your business, making it more likely to secure funding. 2. Insurance - There are many different types of coverage you should consider, from general business liability insurance to business errors and omissions insurance for directors and officers. Depending on the number of employees and state or provincial laws governing your business, you may be required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. You may also need to pay unemployment insurance. Talk to an experienced insurance agent and become familiar with best practices and the regulations that govern your industry. 3. Business Entity Formation – There may be significant benefits to forming a limited liability company (“LLC”) or corporation. These types of entities may benefit you in regard to personal liability, taxation and protection of personal assets. Consult with an attorney or CPA to determine which business entity, if any, will be most beneficial to your business. To learn more about the laws and requirements in your state or province, call your LegalShield provider law firm. 4. Permits & Licenses – Before you begin operating a business, check with your state or provincial regulatory agencies to ensure that you have the authority to proceed. Certain businesses require special licensing or certification. 5. Intellectual Property (IP) - IP laws can be incredibly complex, but they should not be ignored. Make sure you understand what can be done to protect your IP. Call you LegalShield provider law firm and speak with an experienced attorney. 6. Advisers - Consult with attorneys, accountants and businesspeople that have experience in your industry. Surrounding yourself with advisers who are knowledgeable will help you get off to the best possible start. 7. Commitment - Your business will only be successful if you commit to it completely. Understand that there may be setbacks and challenges along the way but learning from and moving past those difficulties will make you and your business stronger. Reprinted from LegalShield's corporate website. For more information about LegalShield services or to become a member, click here. ![]() I read an article this morning by Alex Honeysett, who had recently been to a digital marketing and business-building conference in Dallas. She talks about five powerful marketing quotations she picked up there. The event was primarily for entrepreneurs, but the lessons from these quotes are applicable to all of us who market ourselves and/or our products, online or offline. 1. "Remember the heart beating behind the screen." -- Nathalie Lussier, digital strategist It's so easy to climb up on our soapboxes (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and issue a proclamation, a statement "for the masses." You see it all the time, people -- especially marketers -- often seem to forget that they are trying to reach a person, maybe not every person, but certainly not a homogenous group called "customers." There may be dozens or thousands of people reading your words, but each of them is doing it one at a time. Try in your writing to reach one person, again and again. To build your community, try to connect with each person, not the demographic group. I find it helpful to imagine one person on my lists that I know personally, and write as if I am writing to that one person. (What? You don't have any of your "real world" friends-in-the-flesh on your feeds?!) Write as if you're writing to that one person, and then follow up with that person to find out if he or she thought your post or tweet or whatever was on-target and effective. Yes, friends can get away with being highly critical. You don't have to take their advice, of course, but hearing an honest response to your work will go a long way in helping you become better at what you're doing. 2. “People don't pay to get to heaven. They pay to get out of hell.” -- Liz Dialto, founder of Wild Soul Movement There are carrots, and there are sticks. Don't just talk about the benefits of your product or service. Talk directly to your reader about the ramifications of not having your product or service. Avoiding those ramifications are the true benefits of what you're offering. Back in the silver age of comic books, there were drawings in the backpage advertisements selling a book about bodybuilding. These ads didn't promote getting bigger or stronger for its own sake, for health reasons. It was all about becoming tough enough so that the bully on the beach would no longer throw sand in your face and take your girl. Fear of embarrassment or of loss, of being seen as weak or uncultured or as unable to keep up with the Joneses, is a powerful motivator. Take time in your presentation to let your customer know what they will be avoiding by buying and using your product or service. 3. “Be a co-creator with your tribe.” -- Nathalie Lussier, digital strategist Social media lets us be "social." Advertising and marketing is no longer a one-way street. Listen to what your customers and would-be customers say. Respond. Interact. Build a friendship and a community. 4. “It’s not going to be fun. It's going to suck. Do it anyway.” -- Sarah Jenks, founder of Live More Enjoying your work, doing what you love, is important. But that doesn't mean everything that may be required of you is going to be fun. There are a zillion things an entrepreneur or a small business owner has to do to get their business going, or to keep it going, that aren't glamorous or exciting. Handling technical issues, interviewing prospective employees, tweeting and facebooking on a regular schedule, etc... not everyone finds doing these things an exciting part of their job. But do them anywhere, or get someone else to do them for you. To steal one of the most effective marketing slogans ever: Just do it. Which leads us to the fifth marketing quote to always keep in mind: 5. “First things first. Second things not at all.” -- Peter Drucker, management consultant and author It's hard to be more concise than Mr. Drucker was, but I'll try: "Prioritize." If it needs to be done, do it. If it doesn't need to be done, don't do it. |
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