By Bob Katzen
The Judiciary Committee hearing also included legislation that would outlaw the practice of phishing,
which involves using fraudulent e-mail solicitations in an attempt to obtain an individual’s personal information, including computer passwords, bank account and credit card numbers. The bill would establish the punishment for phishing as a fine of up to $5,000 and/or up to a 2.5 year jail sentence.
“Phishing scams are evolving daily, morphing into more complex schemes intended to defraud a wide range of targets, from individual residents of the commonwealth to large financial service institutions,” said sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “As these phishing attempts become more sophisticated, it is imperative that we continue to modernize our laws to combat and prevent these types of scams to protect the public.”
The committee’s agenda also included a bill filed by Jones that would prohibit the use of motor vehicle tracking devices without the consent of the vehicle’s owner. The provisions of this bill would not apply to systems installed by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle, car rental businesses or insurance companies with the vehicle owner’s consent.
“Motor vehicle tracking devices provide a useful tool for law enforcement, parents and legal guardians of children who are minors, and business owners tracking company vehicles, and those uses would continue to be allowed under this bill,” said Jones. “The real purpose of this bill is to promote public safety by preventing individuals from using these devices to engage in predatory activities such as stalking.”