Ohio Governor Strickland recently signed into law Substitute House Bill
46, which allows any Ohioan to place a security freeze on their
personal credit report.

A security freeze limits credit reporting agencies from disclosing consumers’ credit files to third parties without their consent. This would keep an impostor from opening a credit account in an unsuspecting consumer’s name. Only the person to whom the credit file refers can request a security freeze or request that the security freeze be removed or temporarily lifted to further credit.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s most recent statistics reveal that nearly 7,000 Ohioans become victims of identity theft each year.

The crime of identity theft is particularly insidious because the victim typically isn’t aware that they have been “had” until long after it happens. It can take many months and thousands of dollars to recover one’s good name and credit rating, all while the thief has moved on to ravage other victims.

The fee for Ohioans to place, temporarily lift, or permanently remove a security freeze on a credit report is $5 each. The fee for placing an initial freeze would be waived for Ohioans who can prove that they have been the previous victim of identity theft. In order to place the credit freeze, consumers must contact all three credit reporting bureaus.

Ohioans may request a security freeze by mail, or in the case of Experian, online. Contact the following bureaus for more information on how to request a security freeze:  Equifax – equifax.com or 800-525-6285, Experian- experian.com or 800-397-3742, or TransUnion- transunion.com or 800-680-7289.