Authentify Thwarts Identity Theft with a Modern Twist to a Familiar Technique. Adding a Personal Touch to an Internet Transaction.

Chicago, IL - February 9th, 2004 - The medical doctor from Amarillo, Texas was surprised to receive an automated call asking about a pending credit transaction on a Web site. After all, he was at home watching television and wasn’t online. The working mother from Virginia was angry that what she took for a telemarketing firm should dare to ring her phone at 2:30 in the morning. That is, until she realized it was an inquiry about a financial transaction being attempted via the Internet against one of her accounts. These encounters and many like them are part of the growing success story behind a patent-pending process developed by Chicago based Authentify, Inc.

In simple terms, Authentify enables the telephone as an authentication tool for Internet transactions. Authentify has developed a process that permits Web sites or other network access points to place an automated telephone call to the person involved in the transaction. Once they have answered the call, the person will be prompted for information being displayed on their computer screen ensuring that the person on the phone is in control of the web session.

“The ability to control a particular phone at a particular point in time is a deceptively powerful deterrent to account takeovers and identity theft,” said Peter Tapling, President and CEO of Authentify. “Thieves understand the trail left by the telephone network. If you’re not online accessing your bank account, you’re not expecting a telephone call from your bank. If someone else is using your personal information in an attempt to steal your account, simply hanging up your phone when it rings effectively cancels the attempted transaction.”

One of the reasons identity theft has become a global problem, particularly online, is that the identity thief can usually remain anonymous. Authentify leverages the trust in the telephone network and can capture a voice recording during the synchronized telephone exchange entirely removing that anonymity. Few criminals are anxious to leave such a strong piece of evidence connecting them directly to an online activity of questionable nature.

“The telephone is incredibly easy to use,” adds Mr. Tapling, “everybody knows how to drive one.” Authentify’s process employs the telephone in true real time. Telephone calls are placed at the instruction of the user, so the call is expected and typically completes in a matter of seconds. An automated telephone call tied to an online transaction can result in successful confirmation of transactions that may not have otherwise been completed interactively – saving the user time and the company money. Authentify also enables loss prevention in the event of fraud by providing a “real world anchor” for the online transaction – the location of the telephone number called.

Authentify first offered its services in March 2001 and today has more than a dozen customers including the likes of Hewlett Packard, Associated Bank, Verisign, PaymentOne, and the Department of Defense. The Authentify telephony service center often places more than 5,000 calls per day, used to confirm online transactions, deliver forgotten PIN’s to an account holder, or support similar transactions -- securely, over the telephone.

While few of Authentify’s customers will reveal specifics about the impact of the Authentify process in relationship to their fraud prevention or security programs, the number of callers who take the time to call Authentify directly and relate their story is growing. In the case of the Texas doctor and the Virginia mother – all’s well that ends well. Alerted by the telephone calls, each contacted the appropriate financial institutions and avoided any further difficulties. “We love it when we get a “save” for the good guys”, said Tapling.

About Authentify
For companies that rely on the Internet to provide access to and conduct transactions for customers, employees and business partners, Authentify offers a convenient and engaging way to help make certain those companies know who they are dealing with online.

Authentify provides authentication services critical for online enrollment, account activation, e-signature and identity management applications. Authentify ensures undeniable interactive contact, out-of-band, with a specific online user, yet requires no special software or hardware. Authentify's approach, tightly binds a telephone call to an Internet session, utilizes an existing infrastructure that people know how to use. The result, a low cost, but very effective way to strengthen security processes and deter identity theft, account takeover and other fraud.

Authentify is privately held and based in Chicago, Illinois. There efforts to effectively combat identity theft earned them a 2003 Chicago Innovation Award in recognition of their approach. Authentify’s home on the Web is: http://www.authentify.com.

Editorial contacts:

John Zurawski
Authentify, Inc.
773.243.0328
john.zurawski@authentify.com

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