It was supposed to be easy for the consumer! The plan was in place–people who wanted to get a free copy of their credit report could log onto a web site to order it. Consumers flocked to the web site https://www.AnnualCreditReport.com BUT so did the imposters!
"Some 98 imposter web sites have been discovered," says Lois Smith, University of Illinois Extension consumer and family economics educator. "Now the same consumer groups that touted using the web site are reversing their recommendations and encouraging consumers to go back to the 'old' methods of getting information. They suggest that you phone your request to the central service that has been established to handle these orders. That toll-free number is 1-877-322-8228."
Trans Union LLC Consumer Disclosure Center P.O. Box 1000 Chester, PA 19022
Smith offers these tips for safeguarding your personal information:
When requesting your free credit report, ask that only the last four digits of your Social Security number are displayed on the reports to be mailed to you.
Have the report mailed to a secure mailbox.
Order a free credit report every four months. Order one from each of the three credit bureaus. (You're entitled to one free credit report from each of them once a year.) That way, you can regularly monitor activity on your credit reports and watch for fraudulent accounts and other suspicious activity.
Author: Lois E. Smith, U of I Extension Educator, Consumer and Family Economics
