Senator Pryor Introduces ID Theft Bill

According to a press release, U.S. Senator Mark Pryor has introduced an identity theft bill in the U.S. Senate.

He calls his bill, the Consumer Report Security Freeze Act, the "the strongest legislation to date targeted at preventing identity theft."

The bill gives consumers a federal right to place a security freeze on their credit reports.

Credit reporting agencies would also have to tell consumers the names of any third parties trying to get information from their credit reports.

“My legislation ensures that no one will be able to open up a credit account using someone else’s information and it eliminates the need for consumers to keep a fearful eye over their credit files,” Pryor said. “With over 10 million people at risk from security breaches this year alone, it’s only right to place privacy rights first.”

Also from the press release:

"All consumers deserve the right to freeze credit files so they can prevent thieves from using stolen identities to open new accounts," said Susanna Montezemolo, Policy Analyst with Consumers Union. "At a time when identity theft has become increasingly common, Senator Pryor's bill offers consumers a powerful tool to keep crooks from damaging their financial futures."

Pryor said that California already allows consumers to put a security freeze on their credit reporting file at any time.

Legislators in Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine and Nevada have passed similar security freeze laws that have not gone into effect yet.



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