04.11.06 | TRANSFIRST and StrikeForce Technologies Tackle Identity Theft for Stored-Value Products over the Internet

DQA from TRANSFIRST and Strikeforce helps protect Stored-Value product issuers from fraud

DALLAS and EDISON, N.J. (April 11, 2006) — TRANSFIRST, a leading provider of credit card processing services and payment enabling technologies, and StrikeForce Technologies, (OTCBB:SKFT), experts in identity assurance, announced today a new program to help issuers of Stored-Value products prevent monetary transactions resulting from identity theft via the Internet, one of the most vulnerable connection points of the transaction. Stored-Value card products purchased, activated, loaded and re-loaded online will require Direct Query Authentication (DQA), significantly decreasing the risk of fraudulent transactions.

The DQA service couples TRANSFIRST’s processing capabilities and state-of-the-art security with StrikeForce’s identity verification/validation and authentication platforms, ValidateID™ and ProtectID™. This service allows Stored-Value card issuers to simultaneously offer customers the convenience of online access and addresses one of the most vulnerable connection points for fraudulent activity – when Stored-Value card products are purchased, activated, loaded and re-loaded online. The enhanced security features will also help financial institutions to address recently promulgated federal guidelines applicable to their service offering.

“With the increasing popularity of Stored-Value cards, this offering is another example of how TRANSFIRST is leading the way in delivering innovative services and solutions to the marketplace,” said Bruce Froendt, president of TRANSFIRST’s ePayment Services division. “Through this strategic joint offering with StrikeForce, we are able to offer multi-layer and multi-factor authentication that adds protection, compliance and peace-of-mind for Stored-Value card issuers, who in the past felt at risk to identity fraud and were reluctant to participate in online purchase and activation programs.”

“The establishment of a secure online environment for Stored-Value issuers mitigates fraud risks through validation and authentication and creates opportunities to reduce overall costs and increase revenue,” said Teddy Svoronos, vice president of eCommerce for StrikeForce Technologies. “Stored-Value issuers are in control of their online transactions, making it harder for ID thieves to commit fraud, while addressing compliance issues.”

Existing TRANSFIRST customers will benefit from the DQA service’s front-end identity fraud protection features. The DQA technology and service is being introduced as a result of TransFirst’s relationship with one of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks. It will allow their Stored-Value consumers to purchase, load and reload Stored-Value cards via online credit card acceptance in a secure environment free from the risks associated with both identity theft and card fraud.

About StrikeForce Technologies
StrikeForce Technologies, a leader in online identity assurance solutions that prevent identity theft, is a company that can protect customers, partners and employees – in real time against identity fraud at almost every access point. Its total protection solution strengthens companies’ defenses against the biggest points of fraud – when accounts are opened, when they’re accessed, when they’re changed, and each time there’s a new transaction. StrikeForce Technologies is trading on the OTC bulletin board (SKFT) and the company is headquartered in Edison, N.J., and can be reached at ttp://www.strikeforcetech.com or (866) 787-4542.

About TRANSFIRST
A premier provider of transaction processing services and payment enabling technologies, TRANSFIRST offers a first-rate suite of products and services and customized processing programs uniquely tailored for the special business needs of financial institutions, independent sales organizations and agents and its referral and reseller partners. Through its in-depth industry knowledge, partnership strategy and innovative solutions, TRANSFIRST provides a specialized approach to transaction processing for healthcare providers, public entities, online and other non-traditional merchants, as well as brick and mortar retailers. Founded in 1995, TRANSFIRST is a market leader in strategic mergers and acquisitions, which has allowed the company to gain significant market share and world-class expertise in growing and profitable industry segments. Built on a platform of personal service, customer commitment and flexible pricing, TRANSFIRST is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has operations facilities in Louisville, Colo., Omaha, Neb., Kansas City, Kan., Newport Beach, Calif., Milwaukee, Wis. and Langhorne, Penn. Company wide, TRANSFIRST currently processes approximately $22 billion in annual sales volume for more than 160,000 merchants and more than 965 financial institutions. TRANSFIRST can be reached at 1-800-745-2659 or at www.TRANSFIRST.com.