CONTACTS: Linda Rozett/Eric Wohlschlegel
(202) 463-5682 / 888-249-NEWS

 

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Chamber of Commerce and Visa USA today announced that it will conduct a series of nationwide events on how businesses can better protect consumer information and reduce fraud.

 

 “Our goal is to be vigilant in protecting consumers against the long history of fraud,” said Rolf Lundberg Jr., Chamber senior vice president, Congressional and Public Affairs.  “This is an effort to stay ahead of the curve by sharing valuable resources that will help the business community at the local level.”

 

 The Payment Cards & Fraud Management: Securing the Transactions of the American Economy campaign will identify key steps to protect customers.  The first event will be held in early August in Springfield, Mo.  Others will take place in the following cities including Charlotte, N.C.; Vancouver, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Sacramento and Los Angeles, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio.; and Arlington and Dallas, Texas.

 

“In today’s world, we must face the challenges to ensure data security" said Dan Caprio, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Chief Privacy Officer at the Department of Commerce.  “While the payments industry took an early lead in establishing sound data security requirements, we need to expand the dialog to ensure that all parties are doing everything possible to safeguard consumer information.”

 

According to Steve Ruwe, executive vice president, Operations and Risk Management, Visa USA, “The only way we’re going to stay ahead of tomorrow’s fraud threats is if the payments industry and the merchant community work together, and that requires an open and ongoing dialogue.”  He added, “Just as merchants have a responsibility to meet our requirements for data security, Visa has a responsibility to listen to merchants and understand the challenges they face on the front lines.  Our goal is to continue to work more closely with merchants on fighting fraud, and this campaign is one key way we will do that.”

 

Resources designed to help businesses protect sensitive customer data are available online at http://www.uschamber.com/sb/security/default, http://www.visa.com/cisp and http://www.visa.com/merchant.

 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

 

# # #     

 

05-124