Fraudulent Credit Report Websites
As the demand for credit reports continues to rise, more and more companies are entering the fray, attempting to offer something better than the competitors.
Unfortunately, fraudulent websites have also made their way into the fold, offering a “free credit report” so long as you provide your credit card information and social security number.
The problem is that many of these sites are simply “phishing” or “carding” scams that are set up with the sole intention of stealing your sensitive information, pinching your money, and ruining your credit in the process.
These fraudulent credit report websites work in a variety of different ways, but usually reveal themselves the same way.
If the company asks for your pin number or passport information, or if the company website contains typos, spelling errors, or foreign verbiage, it’s a huge red flag and you should avoid doing business with the company, and even report it to the FTC.
If you ordered a “free credit report” but failed to receive anything or even get charged, there’s a good chance your information may be in the hands of scam artists.
In order to avoid credit report scams, only deal with large nationwide credit reporting companies, including the three credit bureaus, and related companies.
Do not respond to unsolicited offers in your inbox or by mail if they look unfamiliar or foreign, especially from foreign domain based e-mail addresses such as “.ru” or “.de”.
If you’re uncertain if a particular company is legitimate or not, do some research online to see if the company is reputable before ordering a credit report.
Remember, ordering a credit report involves sharing a large amount of highly sensitive information that you typically wouldn’t share with anyone.
Make sure you choose a company that you feel comfortable using, not just the lowest common denominator.
If you’re not interested in a credit score, and just want a credit report, you can always order the government-sponsored free credit report from Annualcreditreport.com as well (get a free credit report without a credit card).
Related Topics:
- Free Credit Report
- Free Credit Report vs. Credit Monitoring
- Watch Out for Vishing Scams
- Free Credit Report, But No Free Credit Score
- Order a Free Credit Report Long Before Searching for a Mortgage
Posted Under: Credit Help and Tips