For Immediate Release
Monday, August 17, 2009
Contact: Rob Teilhet
404-435-7499

State Representative and Attorney General Candidate Teilhet Joins Forces with Coalition to “Fight Identity Theft” as part of Awareness Campaign
Leading Candidate For Attorney General joins Atlanta City Council, Atlanta Police Department, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta and Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs among stakeholders taking aim at growing threat

(Atlanta – August 17, 2009 ) -- Tackling one of Georgia's fastest-growing crimes, State Representative and candidate for Attorney General Rob Teilhet joined a coalition of local organizations to “Fight Identity Theft” as part of a high-profile public awareness campaign that kicked off today during a news conference at Atlanta City Hall. 

The campaign is the centerpiece of an initiative dubbed Project SAFE, which aims to arm citizens with the information, tools and resources needed to combat identity theft.  “For seven years, I have fought to protect Georgians from identity theft,” said Representative Teilhet. “I'm proud to join this effort to help educate Georgians about the risks of identity theft and how they can protect themselves.”

As part of the “Fight Identity Theft” campaign, Project SAFE is unveiling a series of eye-catching print ads, posters, radio PSAs and online materials depicting real-life identity theft victims from different walks of life – all of whom are laced up in boxing gloves. These onetime “victims” will explain in their own words how they emerged from their respective ordeals as “victors.”

Funded by a 2008 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Project SAFE also deploys staff and volunteers to assist residents in recovering their losses, repairing their credit histories and, in some cases, restoring their good names before the eyes of the law.

The campaign's timing couldn't be better: In 2008, Georgia was ranked as the state with the 7th highest number of reported identity theft cases, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Law enforcement is reporting incidents that run the gamut from individual attacks to coordinated activity involving well-organized, identity theft rings.

Statistics show that identity theft and identity fraud crimes exact a heavy toll on our national economy and overall quality of life. An independent 2007 survey found that roughly 9 million Americans were attacked by identity thieves who stole an average of $5,720 per victim.  That year, the total cost of those crimes was estimated at $50 billion.

But there's a little known, and disturbing statistic about identity theft: Roughly a third of the cases are never reported to the authorities.

To date, Project SAFE partners include AARP of Georgia, Atlanta City Council, Atlanta Police Department, The Atlanta Urban League, Cascade United Methodist Church, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta, Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority, Georgia Department of Human Services, Georgia Watch, Glymph and Associates, the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs, Greater Atlanta Hadassah, MARTA, Representative Rob Teilhet, Swing! Magazine and WSB-AM.

Teilhet's high-profile involvement in the fight against identity theft follows recent news that he had earned the endorsement of State Senator and Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Emanuel Jones and far outpaced all other candidates running for Attorney General in the June 30 fundraising report. Teilhet raised more than $207,000 in 12 weeks from more than 480 donors across Georgia.

Teilhet says his campaign for Attorney General will focus on consumer protection, advocacy for crime victims and ethics in government.  Teilhet is widely known as the strongest voice in the General Assembly for protecting Georgians from rip-offs and con artists.  He has been a reliable supporter of law enforcement and crime victims as a member of the House Judiciary Committee.  Teilhet is also a champion for stronger ethics laws.

Rob Teilhet (pronounced tuh-lay) has represented Smyrna and Marietta in the Georgia House of Representatives since his election in 2002 at the age of 28.  He is the Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and serves on the Judiciary, Education, and Industrial Relations Committees.  He is a partner in the Marietta law firm of Rogers, Strimban & Teilhet.  More information about his campaign can be found at his website, www.robforgeorgia.com .

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