NORWALK, Conn. — Affinion, a noted ID theft and marketing firmfor credit unions, has acquired CardCops, a Malibu, Calif.-based IDtheft protection, data monitoring and analysis technology solutionsleader. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“As a leader in credit monitoring and identity theft protection,we are excited to add CardCops and its advanced technologies to ouralready extensive fraud prevention and protection solutionsbusiness,” said Tom Rusin, chief revenue officer and generalmanager of Affinion Group. “CardCops is the premiere ID theftwatchdog on the Internet, and this innovative company–combined withour strong suite of ID theft prevention products–is ushering in anew era of identity fraud protection.”

Affinion Group and CardCops partnered last year to launch a newtool called ID Secure that uses public records, Social Securitynumber and credit card monitoring technology to fight identitytheft, Affinion said. CardCops' technology monitors the Internetand collects compromised personal information from foreign“underground” chat rooms where full sets of personal informationare bought and sold by identity thieves for $10 to $30, Affinionsaid.

“Being part of the Affinion Group gives CardCops more resourcesto gather more data to deliver greater protection to Americans,e-commerce companies and businesses across the country,” said DanClements, chief executive officer of CardCops. “These ID thieves onforeign soil who attack Americans are the modern day bank robbers,and we can stop them before they even commit the crime.”

By using CardCops' sophisticated monitoring capabilities andcomprehensive proprietary database, Affinion Group will helpfinancial institutions protect customers' vital data while enablingonline merchants to sell products and services securely, Affinionadded.