Governor goes after identity thieves
From Staff Reports

Governor Sonny Perdue signed three pieces of legislation yesterday (Tuesday) to protect Georgia consumers and prosecute identity thieves.

According to a press release from the governor's office, House Bill 130 will enable Georgia consumers to freeze or block access to their credit file against anyone trying to open a new account or get new credit in their name. This legislation sets the credit freeze amount at $3 and strikes a balance between the fees credit bureaus need to charge and the consumers' rights to quickly and effectively protect their credit.

"I am excited beyond words that we in Georgia now have the best credit freeze law in the United States," said Clark Howard, a nationally-known radio personality and champion of consumer protection initiatives, who witnessed the signing. "Now, Georgians have the best way possible to shut down identity thieves cold."

Through Senate Bill 388, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) will establish an Identity Theft Task Force. The bill also transfers the authority to investigate identity theft from the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs to the GBI.

The taskforce will be funded with $1 million in the FY09 budget and will support eight new agents.

Lastly, Senate Bill 24 will impose stiffer penalties against criminals convicted of identity theft through the use of Internet phishing.