Posts Tagged ‘Concern’
How to Prevent Credit Report Fraud
While trying to seek your credit report there are a number of ways that unscrupulous thieves can take advantage of you. They will find any way to steal your identity and one way would be for them to offer fake “free credit report” opportunities.
The main way they get you is to require a credit card even if it is supposed to be a free trial. However, sometimes they try to cancel and put additional charges on top of the ones you already made.
They also then try to make it difficult for you to cancel your free trial. Then you are stuck paying probably for additional services you no longer even want.
Prevention Tips
Make sure you go to a recommended source to obtain a free credit report. Annual Credit Report.com is probably your best choice, but any comparable to this that are reputable would be fine.
If you must use a credit card because you think the additional credit monitoring services may help you then keep the following in mind:
- Never sign up unless you know the server is secure. This will prevent third-party fraud.
- Never give your credit card number to a company that you do not recognize. This will reduce risk of later becoming the victim of unauthorized charges.
- Make sure you verify the name of the company providing credit report monitoring services. Verisign seal information is one way to do this, or you could check with the Better Business Bureau if you have any doubts.
- Only fill out the information that is required. Be very careful about to whom you give your social security card, driver’s license, birth date, and other information.
- Do not pay for any services you could get for free. For instance, you can have free fraud alerts placed on your annual credit report.