Monster.com Joins FTC to Advocate for Better Consumer Protections against Online Fraud

Maynard, MASS., February 17 –  Patrick Manzo, Senior Vice President for Fraud Prevention and Chief Privacy Officer at  Monster.com®, the leading job matching engine and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), joined the Federal Trade Commission at a press conference in Washington DC, today.  The FTC held the conference to announce a law enforcement sweep cracking down on job and work-at-home fraud fueled by the economic downturn.

The press conference featured:

  • David C. Vladeck, Director, FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection
  • Tony West, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
  • Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray
  • A job seeker who lost money to a scam

 “Getting America back to work is our top national priority and efficiently matching open positions and job seekers is a critical element of that initiative.  Over a million jobs need to be filled by the end of 2010, and online job search capabilities are a critical factor in helping Americans find work quickly and efficiently.  Unfortunately, criminals are taking advantage of the high jobless rate and the efficiency and anonymity provided by the Internet, and their actions can harm consumers and damage trust in online job search resources.  This press conference comes at a time when fraud should be of paramount priority to both the public and private sector,” said Patrick Manzo.

Monster has long advocated for a strong public and private response to online fraud in addition to arming consumers with information and resources to enable them to avoid potentially unsafe offers.  “More dialogues like the forum we are having today can help to draw consumer attention to this issue – as we firmly believe that an educated, discriminating consumer is significantly less likely to be victimized by online fraud.  We also support breaking down the barriers between business and law enforcement as we believe that better information sharing practices will substantially aid prosecution of criminals engaged in online fraud.  A collaborative and open approach to consumer education is also warranted,” said Manzo.

Mr. Manzo is responsible for promoting consumer security by preventing fraudulent use of Monster products and protecting Monster's industry-leading resume database from unauthorized access. In this critical leadership position, he also helps Monster establish and maintain open lines of communication with local, state, and federal law enforcement organizations and intelligence-gathering agencies, leading to better detection, recovery and prevention of fraud.

About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster, the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to inspire people to improve their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 index. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at http://www.about-monster.com.

Press Contacts
Matthew Henson
978-823-2627
Matthew.henson@monster.com

Michael Heimowitz
Porter Novelli
202-419-3251
mike.heimowitz@porternovelli.com