Strengthened Identity Theft Protection Laws Will Help Consumers

    ALBANY, N.Y., June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Before leaving Albany,
 Governor Paterson and Legislature agreed to update New York's Identity
 Theft laws. The legislation allows New Yorkers to place security freezes on
 their credit either by phone or signing up over the internet with the
 appropriate credit agency.
 
     Security freezes block most entities from gaining access to an
 individual's credit information and also prevents unauthorized persons from
 opening new accounts or borrowing money using another's personal
 information. Currently, the only way to sign up for this identity theft
 tool is to send a certified letter to the various credit reporting
 agencies.
 
     "The leadership of the Governor Paterson, Senator Fuschillo and
 Assemblywoman Pheffer creates easy access to this essential identity theft
 tool," said Lois Aronstein. "This legislation enhances the existing law
 providing a convenient way for New Yorkers to keep identity thieves from
 getting their hands on their personal credit information."
 
     According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2007 New York ranked
 sixth out of fifty states in the number of per capita identity theft
 complaints. An AARP study from November 2007 found that 81 percent of older
 consumers are concerned about becoming a victim of identity theft.
 
     The following security freeze provisions are in the new Identity Theft
 package:
 
 

     --  Allow consumers to request a freeze on their credit reports via
         telephone or over the internet. 					Hidden List
     --  Require credit reporting agencies to place a security freeze on an
         individual's credit report within 24 hours of receiving notice. 			
         	Hidden List
     --  Require credit bureaus to "thaw" a consumer's credit file
         within 15 minutes of receipt of the request.
     --  Creates Identity Theft Prevention and Mitigation Program to be
         administered by the Consumer Protection Board to assist identity theft
         victims in undoing the damage that the identity thief has done to their
         financial and credit history.
     The legislation also prohibits employers from posting or displaying an
 employee's Social Security number, or placing Social Security numbers in
 files with open access. In addition, it proposes to make it illegal to
 posses a skimmer device, which can obtain personal identifying information
 such as numbers from credit cards.
 
     AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps
 people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are
 beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not
 endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either
 political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the
 definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation
 magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source
 for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the
 only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic
 community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated
 charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older
 persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and
 sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of
 Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
 
 
 

SOURCE AARP New York State