Identity Theft News

Governor Signs Legislation To Protect New Yorkers Against Identity Theft

New York Remains National Leader in Providing Consumers with Ability to Proactively Protect their Credit Reports from Third Party Access

Governor George E. Pataki today signed three bills that will further protect New York’s consumers and their privacy. These bills will allow consumers to proactively defend themselves against identity thieves, require businesses to properly discard documents and records containing personal information, and prohibit individuals from deceptively soliciting sensitive information from Internet users. They will also help prohibit the potential repercussions that many identity theft victims encounter, including the denial of loan applications, false arrest, and criminal records.

“Before another New Yorker falls victim to fraud or identity theft, these laws, signed today, will go a long way to protecting our consumers, in the future,” Governor Pataki said. “As all New Yorkers come to rely heavily on the Internet in their daily lives, we must exercise all possible avenues to ensure the safety and privacy of our consumers and protect them from identity fraud. These three laws make certain that New Yorkers have additional tools to combat those wishing to take advantage of them and their families.”

Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., Chairman of the Senate’s Consumer Protection Committee and sponsor of the bills said, “As criminals continue to devise new schemes to steal people’s private information, New York State must come up with stronger laws to protect its consumers. By giving people the ability to freeze their credit and requiring businesses and governments to properly dispose of records containing private information, we will be enacting three of the toughest anti-identity theft laws in the country. I thank Governor Pataki for helping us enact these important new laws that will greatly benefit all New Yorkers.”

Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, Chair of the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee said, “With the recent announcement that millions of the nation’s veterans are the potential victims of identity theft this legislation is extraordinarily timely in aiding these New York Veterans involved in this matter, as well as consumers across the state. These bills were developed after intensive negotiations with all parties involved, and we believe that the result is a comprehensive package of legislation that addresses the needs of our consumers and continues to demonstrate that New York remains a leader in the fight against identity theft."

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