Attorney General Kelly Ayotte announced today that if you live in New Hampshire, effective January 1, 2007 you will have the right to put a "security freeze" on your credit file. A security freeze means that your file cannot be shared with potential creditors. A security freeze can help prevent identity theft. Most businesses will not open credit accounts without first checking a consumer's credit history. If your credit files are frozen, even someone who has your name and Social Security number would probably not be able to get credit in your name. The security freeze legislation passed in the 2006 legislative session. Senator David Gottesman was the bill’s prime sponsor

A security freeze is free to identity theft victims who have a copy of a police report. For consumers who are not the victims of identity theft, it will cost $10 to place or lift a freeze with each credit bureau.

Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the United States. Identity thieves steal all sorts of personal information: Social Security numbers, bank or credit card account numbers, passports, driver’s licenses, and other legal documents. “Thieves use stolen information to get access to existing accounts and to open new accounts,” said Attorney General Ayotte. “Victims of ID theft may find credit cards, utility bills, car loans - even mortgages - in their name. It can take years to recover. The security freeze is a new tool available to consumers to help protect them from becoming victims of identity theft.”

A security freeze fact sheet, including step by step instructions on how to place a security freeze, is available on the New Hampshire Department of Justice’s Website at http://doj.nh.gov/consumer/credit_freeze.html. General information on identity theft is available by going to www.doj.nh.gov/consumer and clicking on the Identity Theft Toolkit icon, or by calling the Attorney General’s consumer protection hotline toll free at 1-888-468-4454.