LANSING ? A tough new Identity Theft law will take effect in March 2005 that could help Michigan fight one of the fastest growing crimes in America today.
Under the new law signed this week by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, retailers can not display more than the last four digits of a credit card number on a receipt. The new law also will limit a company?s ability to use Social Security numbers for customer identification, and prohibit employers from printing the numbers on identification badges.
?Social security numbers are almost a universal number system for companies and they?re the prime device used for ID theft,? said state Rep. Bill Van Regenmorter, R-Georgetown Township, who sponsored the bill. ?This package will protect consumers.?
Limiting businesses? use of Social Security numbers is crucial, said Megan Owens, a consumer advocate for the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan. The package makes the state one of the leaders in fighting identity theft, she said.
