COLUMBUS: The Ohio House has voted to give the state’s top law enforcer beefed-up powers to go after online scammers who use sites such as eBay and Craigslist to rip people off.
The bill approved 83-10 on Tuesday allows the state’s attorney general to seek records on phone and Internet activity by suspected cyber fraudsters. Online payment information also could be requested.
The measure passed the state Senate in November. It now returns to the Senate for a final vote.
State officials have said that 7,300 Ohioans reported losing more than $10 million to online thefts or scams during 2010.
The head of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio says the legislation makes it easier for law enforcement to access personal information and that raises the risk of police “shenanigans.”
