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"Free" Credit Report Scams!

Deadly Sushi

The One, The Only, Sushi
SUPER Site Supporter
One important step in preventing identity theft is to obtain and examine your free credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus. However, simply by trying to get your credit report you may be putting yourself at risk.
Unfortunately, fraud, scams, deceptive practices, and identity theft are all common occurrences when you try to obtain your free credit report.
In fact, some credit companies make it almost impossible to receive your free report, others misrepresent their policies, and even worse, many scammers impersonate real credit companies.
Nonetheless, free credit reports are a valuable service in fighting the ever-present threat of identity theft. You have the right to receive a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus.
Obtaining a free credit report enables you to review all of your accounts to make sure that you have first hand knowledge of all the outstanding accounts in your name.
What Problems Are You Likely to Encounter When Trying to Get a Free Credit Report?

Many companies have deceptive and misleading practices. A simple Internet search for 'free credit report' will turn up many sites that claim to offer free reports.
When you visit their site and provide the information necessary to obtain a credit report, often very personal information, you're also asked to enter a credit card number.
If membership isn't cancelled in thirty days, your credit card is charged. This has become such a big problem that the FTC sued several companies for deceptive and misleading practices and has sent warning letters to more than 100 website companies.
Second, free credit report email phishing scams are common. Perpetrators will email an offer for a free credit report. When you follow the link and provide your personal information, you've given the scammers everything they need to assume your identity and obtain credit in your name.
Here Are Five Things You Should NOT Do to Obtain Your Free Credit Report:
  1. Never follow an email link offering a free credit report.
  2. Never utilize a search engine to find a free credit reporting company. (Imposters utilize website names that are extremely similar to the real companies.)
  3. Never give a credit card number for a 'free' credit report.
  4. Never purchase anything so that you can receive your free credit report.
  5. Never click on a pop-up ad for a free credit report.
What Should You Do to Obtain Your Free Credit Report?

Go to AnnualCreditReport.com. It's the only website authorized to give free credit reports.
(Yes, we see the irony of giving you a link after just telling you not to click on them for free credit reports. So, you might want to type in the URL instead of just clicking on the link.)
The FTC recommends that you visit only this site for your free credit report.
You can also order your free credit report by phone by calling 877-322-8228. Mail orders can be sent to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105821, Atlanta GA 30348-5281.
To read more about free credit reports and credit reporting scams visit Scambusters' Free Credit Report page.

http://www.scambusters.org/creditreport.html
 
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