Credit Freeze Laws Battle ID Theft

Some states are battling identity theft with laws that allow consumers to freeze their credit reports.

Identity thieves can’t establish new credit lines if they can’t access reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus, a Washington Post story explains.

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia authorize freezes, according to a Post sidebar. Some of those states charge fees for the privilege or permit only identity theft victims to freeze their reports.