Ohio fires new volley in war on ID theft

Ohio fires new volley in war on ID theft

Ohio’s arsenal of weaponry to battle insidious identity theft has just gotten a little stronger.

Earlier this month, Gov. Ted Strickland signed into law Ohio House Bill 46, a measure that provides Ohio consumers with increased protections against would-be ID thieves. Coupled with individuals using common-sense security strategies, the new law should make a larger dent in consumer fraud in the Buckeye State.

That crime and its costs continue to escalate. Conservative estimates by the Federal Trade Commission show that at least 7,000 Ohioans fall victim to ID thieves each year. Such knaves use personal information, usually Social Security and credit card numbers, to file false tax returns, seek tax refunds, open new credit cards and bank accounts, make charges to credit cards, withdraw funds from banks and even disguise their identity when arrested for serious crimes.

Escalating battle

As ID thieves become more savvy and sophisticated in their tactics, government watchdogs must become more proactive and aggressive in their response. Ohio’s new law does so on several fronts.

First, House Bill 46 makes it easier and cheaper for Ohioans to freeze access to their credit reports, which often contain Social Security numbers and other information ripe for would-be pilferers.

A credit freeze is a tool for victims or potential victims of identity theft to lock out inquiries into their credit report for new accounts. Consumers will have the ability to temporarily unlock access within 15 minutes of a request they make to seek new credit. The fee for the freeze will be $5, less than what credit agencies charge, and free for proven victims of ID theft.

Second, the new law targets a prime hangout of rascals who indulge in ID theft: Internet records. House Bill 46 requires state public officials to remove Social Security numbers from public records posted online.

Third, the act requires the Office of Criminal Justice Services to make state grants available to local law enforcement agencies to ensure taut enforcement of identity fraud laws. It also requires the office of the attorney general to assist local law enforcement agencies in fighting consumer fraud. To its credit, Marc Dann’s office has been vigilant in fighting identity theft.

Consumers must be cautious

But the fight is far from over. As new laws are enacted, high-tech thieves will continue to find new ways to navigate around them. That’s why consumers must become foot soldiers in the battle as well.

Common-sense protections abound: collect mail promptly, avoid release of Social Security numbers on checks or e-mails, remove your name from national marketing and telemarketing lists, review your credit card statements for inaccuracies, protect your computer by installing a firewall and anti-spyware software.

Clearly, though, there is no panacea to totally thwart the perils of identity theft. Alert, informed and cautious consumers supported by a government committed to strict enforcement of tough anti-fraud laws will go far toward lessening the scope of the perfidious crime.

House Bill 46 puts Ohio on a solid path toward that end.