FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TSCRA offers credit, identity protection to members

A strategic partnership leads to increased services for Cattle Raisers

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 9, 2008—Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is offering association members a tool to protect their credit and identity and help avoid the time-consuming and costly process of credit restoration.

            By working with Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., and Ron Holmes, independent associate certified identity theft risk management specialist, TSCRA offers Identity Theft Shield^SM.

            "Our mission is to protect the stewards of land and livestock in the Southwest," says Jerri McDonald, TSCRA director of insurance services. "We protect Texas and Oklahoma ranchers in the obvious way by recovering stolen livestock and equipment, but some crimes, like identity theft, are more insidious. We found a tool, Identity Theft Shield, which our members can use to aggressively protect their identity and credit."

            "Identity Theft Shield keeps a member working instead of spending hours and dollars removing credit report mistakes and recovering from the impact of having your identity stolen," explains Holmes

            "According to the Federal Trade Commission, a victim of a mid-level identity theft case can expect to spend 600 hours and $1,200 to clean up the consequences," he says. Subscribers to Identity Theft Shield can turn the case over to the investigators and resources at Pre Paid Legal Service and the company goes to work for them."

            Holmes adds, "The Federal Trade Commission expects 9.9 million identity theft victims annually, and the number is increasing."

            "One in eight US citizens will be an identity theft victim," McDonald adds. "We want those one in eight Cattle Raisers to be protected."

            Identity Theft Shield is marketed by Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., and is serviced by Kroll, Inc.

            Identity Theft Shield provides subscribers continuous credit monitoring. All of us are able to review our own credit reports, free of charge, once a year. Identity Theft Shield monitors credit activity daily, alerting you to suspicious activity.

            If your driver's license or Social Security Number is stolen, Kroll's licensed investigators will work on your behalf to correct identity theft issue with affected agencies and institutions including credit card companies, the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration, Department of Motor Vehicles, U.S. Postal Service and others.

            Identity Theft Shield downloads the daily change of address database from the U.S. Postal Service. If someone is trying to change your address, they'll spot it and alert the subscriber.

            Prevention is key to avoid being a victim of identity theft, McDonald points out. Pre-approved credit offers in every mailbox at the end of a driveway or out on a rural road give unscrupulous characters opportunities to steal. Using your name, they can change the billing address of the new credit card and go on a buying spree. The bill is misdirected, and unpaid. Your credit feels the impact.

            Simply changing your mail delivery to a post office box in town can reduce thieves' opportunity to steal from producers, she explains.

            “"You can check your credit report for free once a year, whether you have this product or not," McDonald points out. "But sadly, in our times, a once-a-year credit check is not enough."

            Identity Theft Shield is one of a full line of risk management and insurance products available to association members through TSCRA Insurance Services. Each Identity Theft Shield policy covers the subscriber and the spouse. Contact TSCRA Insurance Services at 800/242-7820, for more information and for rates and services or for details on membership.

            Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 131-year-old trade organization whose 15,000 members manage approximately 3.7 million cattle on 96.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement services, livestock inspection, legislative and regulatory advocacy and education opportunities for its members.

TSCRA – 15 – 2008