Lifelock
His SSN is 457-55-5467.
And he's making millions!
Lifelock is that company where the CEO posted his Social Security Number with a challenge to take his identity (which someone promptly did). If you've been considering getting the service, wait. First realize what you're paying for.
If you were to go to their site and read through what they actually do, you'll find that you're not getting much for your money.
NOTE! This is for the original version of Lifelock. Due to legal settlements, they've changed their service somewhat and details are below.
They place fraud alerts. The problem is, fraud alerts are practically worthlesss as far as protecting you from ID theft.
They renew the fraud alerts every 90 days. Note that this isn't actually a separate benefit, but they sure seemed to want to have six benefits to their service instead of just five.
They remove your name from pre-screened credit card offers. You can do it yourself, freely, and quickly at optoutprescreen.com. Also note that this is a one-time benefit and not something that you should be paying monthly for.
They order your credit reports once per year which is easy for them because they can use the free annual credit report you are due by law. The bad part here is that if you wanted to use the very clever advice of getting your report from one of the companies every four months so you can keep a semi-constant tab on your credit, you can't. Lifelock blew your free coupons all at once.
They'll keep a list of the companies you have credit cards and such with so you can quickly call them if your wallet is stolen. The FDIC has a great guide about how to do this yourself including the advice to carry a bare-minimum of cards and information and to make your own call-down list.
Lastly, insurance (which some people claim you can't collect on).
Worst of all, the "fraud alert" features (1 and 2) that they provide have been blocked as a result of a recent lawsuit by Experian who claimed that Lifelock was abusing the fraud alert system by placing them for EVERYONE instead of just people who feel in imminent danger of ID theft.
Lawsuit Changes
Because of the lawsuit, they had to pull the fraud alert "feature" from their list of services. Along with some other recent changes I didn't update on, here is the complete list of Lifelock "features" as of Sept '09:
LifeLock Identity Alert™ – In theory they somehow monitor whenever a credit application is entered and alert you. Isn't this what credit-monitoring services do?
eRecon™ – They claim to monitor known criminal websites for your personal information. If they find it, they alert you and help you remove it.
My BS-meter is blinking for two reasons. First, what known criminal websites are out there that Lifelock can get to more than anyone else? If they're public websites, a google-alert would work just as well (and it's free). If they're NOT public websites, how did Lifelock get access to them? Do they have criminal connections?
Second, if they're known criminal websites, why haven't they been taken down? What's lifelock going to do to "resolve the problem" that the police couldn't do?
TrueAddress™ – Monitors change of address databases and alerts you if someone tries to change yours. I don't know how well this works or even if it works as described, but if it does, this might be the first real service that Lifelock provides that isn't easy and free to do yourself.
WalletLock™ – Already described this
Credit card offer opt-out – Already described this
Request your annual free credit reports – Already described this
24 Hour Phone Number – As it should be.
$1 Million Guarantee – Sort of. Read on…
In a different class action lawsuit, the lawyers argue that despite the "1 million dollar guarantee", it's actually almost impossible to collect. The guarantee only comes into action if you can show a "defect in their service", but…
the only way fraudulent activity could result from a defect on LifeLock's behalf was if the company failed to sign its customer up for a fraud alert or add its name to an opt-list. Even if that happened, Carey said, it would be difficult for a customer to prove it was LifeLock's fault.Other lawsuits
Lifelock also had multiple lawsuits brought by the FTC for their deceptive advertising and other BS. They first settled for $11 million in 2010, and then $100 million in 2015 for violating the terms of the first settlement. Will they ever straighten out and behave? It's hard to say, but it's also hard to imagine.
 |  | If you're tired of the crap and lies and want solid information and risk management information that will tangibly improve your defense against ID Theft, check out my Goodbye Identity Theft online course! |
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How do you go about getting a credit freeze? Is that something you do if you think your credit has been breached or is it an ongoing process you pay for monthly? Thank you Carolyn
My brother, who was disabled, heard about LifeLock on the Kim Komando show. When he called Lifelock to sign up with them I am sure that they said to him “you are completely covered” and “we have a million dollar guarantee for your coverage”. Because he had been physically disabled for most of his life he was naïve and inexperienced about companies who make grandiose promises that they have no intention of providing.
In August through December of 2014 his checking account was hacked 3 times through Paypal for a total of $2,180.00. And then he passed away in Feb. 2015. I feel, because Lifelock gave him a false sense of security he was not looking at his bank account and it appears he never even noticed the three Paypal withdrawals. Nor does it appear that Lifelock ever notified him of any problems.
When I went to Lifelock to ask that they refund the money that was stolen under their watch, needless to say I was met with extreme resistance. They are telling me they are not responsible for any of the money that was stolen.
Lifelock totally scammed my brother and took advantage of a disabled person by making promises they were not going to deliver on.
Wow that’s just messed up I’m sorry for your loss
This link above at “make your own call-down list.” just gives a 404 error: https://www.fdic.gov/404.html
Thanks, fixed.
Jeremy,
Wanted you to know how helpful your website and links have been as a guide after an attempted identity-theft yesterday. It saved me money (almost signed on to Lifelock, but then chose to first read your posts), and enabled me to take active control of the situation (security freezes). You have done good 🙂
Jeff Henderson
Glad to help 🙂
Took you a long time to respond. Glad you’re not lifelock. LOL
The only thing Lifelock does well is pay for commercials.
My post just disappear could not copy.basically , lifelock no help with yearly credit report. Next free credit karma found several breaches (one involved perp stole my identity called lifelock with data. They had no clue. Fyi they ask one to call if an alert any alert. May as well call ftc , and wonderful assistance from customer finance. As victim of ID theft , I was hampered from talking to agent. In fact they ask for social. Last week speak to TransUnion. Again he ask questions interspersed with another person. Therefore he could not add my phone no. Anyway, follow link from government site. Of all results I am able to download my information on a cell but block from mailing my reports! However 2 hours I uploaded identification request. Tried to call, again would not answer. However, finance bureau called and now I receive my written report. It’s my right. The perp could have downloaded same on her cell. Yet not send to physical address. In retrospect, our ftc and finance bureau , attorney general are helpful. We may have to fill a report while lifelock does nothing with the Intel I provided from various sources next, years ago lifelock did assist I received letters galore from credit cards. No they were not my transactions and or my cards. Some of the stores not in my state or I had not shop in years(estimate 10 years ago) free month of lifelock. Call police. They do not deal with identity problem at beginning. Especially my county. The perp is now in PA in fact. Next I believe she knows I am on her trail on evidence of her on web poof. Took screenshots as my wifi printer not cooperative. Anyway, I should be paid for detective work. I have traced the perp for several years. She’s using my email. In fact many were hacked again dark web. (Experian does free scan however you must read terms) provided lifelock with emails, one hacked again credit kharma alert not lifelock. Lifelock says they monitor dark web. Ask rep eif he knew how, no clue in closing thanks for your advice. It is disturbing I find the perp they will not do anything I am on cell as computer needs be cleaned (drive full). Lifelock supposed have best software, IT, professionals in security. Fyi I am retired from international IT company. Anyway I do not recommend them except for Norton add with lowest price at 7.99. We use free security apps they are excellent.
Norton 360 with life lock commercials should have a 30minute show for them selfs the commercial last for half the shows i am trying to watch. They must have already enough money to cover all that air time. Or someone has shares its tHarmon and jay need to quit i use to like them.
While a LifeLock member, my bank account was compromised several times, none of which LifeLock caught. Fortunately, my bank stopped two attempts to use the card in Brazil, and stopped payment on other charges in upstate New York. DO NOT waste your time or money with LifeLock, simply freeze your credit accounts, which is a free service offered through all three credit bureaus.
Just watching lifelocks late night infomercial made me laugh. They try to scare you into ordering their service. I’m a computer science guy. I’ve probably signed up to over 5000 websites in the past 25
years. My personal information is out there all over the internet, and I still have never had my identity stolen. I make a pretty good living too. I heard once the odds of getting in trouble with identity theft is one in 5 million. But they scare you into thinking it could happen tomorrow. Conclusion: waste of money.