NY: Law to help protect against identity theft

via CNYLink:

Senator John A. DeFrancisco (R-I-C, Syracuse) said that a bill (S8376A) he cosponsored to help prevent identity theft in New York has become law. The law establishes the crime of unlawful possession of a “skimmer” device and protects personal information in several other ways.

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Several other measures recently went into effect (January 3, 2009), including the following key provisions:

– Establishing a process for identity theft victims to receive information and assistance from the Consumer Protection Board (CPB);

– Allowing consumers to request a freeze on their credit reports via telephone or secure electronic means;

– Prohibiting the filing of documents available for public inspection that contain social security numbers;

– Restricting employers from posting or displaying more than the last four digits of an employee’s social security number, or placing social security numbers in files with open access; and

– Enabling victims of identity theft to obtain restitution for the time they spend fixing their credit and financial history.