Wisconsin Governor Signs Bill to Help Prevent Online Identity Theft

At a bill signing ceremony in the governor's conference room, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle stated that millions of people across the country fall victim to identity theft each year. Individual losses average $1,180. Businesses and institutions also suffer losses, averaging $10,200 per victim.

Doyle signed Assembly Bill 459 on Friday to help protect Wisconsin residents against identity theft. The measure, one of six bills the governor signed, will help keep personal information, such as Social Security numbers, from identity thieves who can access the information from financial records posted online.

"This bill will help protect our citizens from identity theft," Doyle said. "It's a simple step, but it will make a big difference."

When residents borrow money and secure the loan with personal property, the lender files a statement with the Department of Financial Institutions -- a form that is available online and often includes Social Security and employer identification numbers, even though those numbers are not required to be disclosed. This bill will change the forms and make it clear that someone applying for a loan does not need to disclose a Social Security number or employer identification number.

The governor thanked the co-sponsors of the bill, Reps. Bonnie Ladwig and Bobbie Gronemus and Sen. Alberta Darling, for their work on the bill.