Unfortunately, we all know that identity theft is a horrible part of American society that is here to stay. But soon it will be a part of pop culture too, since it’s taking a ride on the reality TV train, thanks to hotel and casino mogul, Donald Trump. Trump will feature LifeLock CEO Todd Davis (yes, the guy that posts his Social Security number on T.V., billboards and busses) on the April 12 episode of The Apprentice.
In this episode, the contestants will design a new LifeLock package, which may or may not be used for resale in the future. These contestants, who are all competing for money to give to charity, are supposed to gear the package toward consumers and then decide how it will fit into a display, also of their design. Davis is apparently looking to branch out with the LifeLock service, possibly to partner with retail establishments, and is looking to the Apprentice contestants for possible inspiration.
So how did we get to this point, where the Donald is in cohorts with an identity theft protection plan provider? Part of it is the prevalence of identity theft in America today. It is becoming so common, affecting more than 9.9 million Americans in 2008, that people want to know all that they can about preventing it, including what identity protection services can offer. The other part may be the accolades that celebrities enjoy when they appear to want to help the public. (Just think about how popular Oprah got when she changed the theme of her talk show from trash TV to the Angel Network.) This is not to say that Donald Trump isn’t sincere, he is, just that getting a little morale boost could only help him as his real estate empire continues to have financial woes due to our economic situation.
Whatever the reason, LifeLock is being featured on the show, and this is a decidedly good thing, since it may steer more people toward identity theft protection plans by putting the thought in their heads. Subscribing to these plans, and being diligent about online, mail and recycling bin security, could save people thousands of dollars, not to mention countless hours of hassle and red tape bureaucracy.
But it is important to note that LifeLock is not the only identity theft protection service. Although it might be the right company for you, especially with the expansions that may be coming out soon, you shouldn’t purchase its package just because you’re an Apprentice fan or solely because LifeLock is rated as the best identity protection company by us.
Instead, do some research, read our reviews, compare LifeLock to their competitors, such as TrustedID, and make sure you are getting the right service for you and for your family. You don’t want to pick out the wrong plan and then have to go back later and say “you’re fired.â€