Credit Freeze Laws
Protect Against Identity Theft

Currently, 37 states have laws allowing consumers to freeze their credit fi les in the event of identity theft. A credit freeze renders the stolen information useless by blocking thieves’ ability to open new accounts using the information. This type of protection is particularly important when a checking account number has been compromised. When someone steals your checking account number, unlike your credit card number, you could face criminal charges if a criminal writes checks pretending to be you.

According to consumer advocate Clark Howard, credit bureaus are opposed to these laws “because they lose all the money they make from your dossier if you freeze your credit.” The state of Georgia does not currently have a credit freeze law. If you are interested in contacting your lawmakers in support of such a law, Howard recommends that you visit fi nancialprivacynow.org for more information.

Source: www.clarkhoward.com.