RALEIGH
– Today, Gov. Mike Easley signed into law the “Identity Theft
Protection Act of 2005” (SB 1048), one of the strongest such bills in
the nation. The bill received widespread support from consumer groups,
the Attorney General’s office, and from legislators on both sides of
the aisle.
“This
bill will have a real impact on the quality of life of the hundreds of
thousands of North Carolinians affected by identity theft each year,”
said Rob Thompson, consumer advocate with NC Public Interest Research
Group (NCPIRG). “It’s a great step towards consumer security.”
The
“ID Theft Protection Act” includes several provisions that will make it
much more difficult for thieves to access someone’s personal and
financial information. Consumers will now be able to place a “security
freeze” on their credit report to prevent identity thieves from taking
out credit in their name. The Act will also restrict the sale and
display of Social Security numbers, making it more difficult for
identity thieves to access personal information.
Not
only does the Act protect vital information, it also provides consumers
with recourse when things go wrong. For instance, businesses will be
required to notify individuals if a security breach may have
compromised their personal information; and, victims of identity theft
will now be able to file complaints at their local police departments
and to clear their name if a thief commits a crime while using their
identity.
Identity
theft is the fastest-growing crime in North Carolina. During the past
four years, the number of North Carolina residents who have filed
identity theft complaints with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has
increased by almost 240 percent—jumping from 1,656 reports in 2001 to
5,623 complaints in 2004. These complaints are just the tip of the
iceberg. A national survey commissioned by the FTC demonstrates that an
estimated 10 million Americans are victimized by identity theft each
year, including more than 250,000 in North Carolina.
“Hundreds
of thousands of North Carolinians suffer as a result of identity theft
each year,” said Thompson, “By imposing stricter standards on banks,
credit bureaus, and others, the Identity Theft Protection Act will help
prevent identity theft. And when identity theft does occur, the new law
gives victims more tools with which to recover.”
