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Free Credit Report - Watch Out for Scams
Many people may still not be aware of an amendment to the Fair
Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that Congress passed last year. This
amendment allows U.S. citizens to receive a copy of their credit
report, for free, once per year. The plan is being rolled out
slowly in order to avoid swamping the system, but people living
in the West and Midwest can receive their credit reports now, and
everyone will be able to obtain a free credit report by September
of this year. Those seeking a copy of their credit report should
watch out, however, as not everyone who promises a "free" credit
report is actually delivering one.
These free credit reports may be obtained through the official
Website: http://www.annualcreditreport.com. Additional
information is available at the Federal Trade Commission Website
at http://www.ftc.gov/credit. Obtaining a copy of your credit
report through this site is easy, and only requires your name,
Social Security number, date of birth, and address. That would
seem fairly straightforward, but there are many companies, some
legitimate and some not, that are interested in attracting the
business of those who seek copies of their credit report, and
scams are flourishing.
Some companies have established Websites with addresses that
are very similar to the address of the official site. These sites
promise a free credit report, but they are actually only
interested in harvesting your personal information. In addition
to stealing your name, Social Security number and address, these
sites may also tell you that a credit card number is necessary to
"verify" your identification. With this information, the people
operating these sites can steal your identity! There are many
other Websites that promise "free" credit reports, but few that
actually provide them for free. One such site is currently under
investigation for credit report fraud. The site promised a "free"
report, but required a credit card for "identification" purposes.
Customers filled out the form and received a copy of the credit
report but also received a charge on their credit card for
$79.
Other unscrupulous companies take a more direct approach by
sending spam e-mail that promises to provide free credit reports.
These spam messages are almost always "phishing" expeditions that
are designed only to obtain your personal information. If you are
interested in obtaining a copy of your credit report, you should
avoid responding to e-mail solicitations.
It is a rare occasion when you can obtain something for
nothing. You can, however, receive a copy of your credit report,
for free, once a year. Be aware, however, that not everyone who
is promising you a free credit report intends to provide you with
one.
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.
Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm
devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a
site devoted to debt consolidation and credit
counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to
information regarding structured
settlements.
MORE RESOURCES:
Clock ticks down on credit bureau class-action dealIndianapolis Star, United States - 55 minutes agoIn a class-action settlement, credit bureau TransUnion has agreed to provide free credit- monitoring services to millions of consumers to settle claims it ... |
MORE COLLEGE CREDITChicago Sun-Times, United States - 10 hours agoDespite the current nationwide credit crunch, the State of Illinois secured $100 million for the student loans by tapping a new source -- credit unions. ... |
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