I posted the following information on another thread a while ago. Since the information is probably more appropriate in a separate thread, I am providing it again. This is helpful information to have to protect yourselves from scams and identity theft. I also provide some steps to take if you ever feel that you have been victimized. Why am I discussing this? Because Lunar fans need to stick together
As some of you have mentioned, freecreditreport.com is not actually "free". This sort of advertising is highly deceptive, and honestly companies like this should be shut down. annualcreditreport.com is the place to go for a free copy of your credit reports as I believe someone already mentioned. This site receives grants from the government to offer this service.
A couple things I think everyone should know.
1) You are legally entitled to one free copy of your credit report every year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.
2) Since each of these reports contains very similar information, it is not a bad idea to stagger your requests if you want to monitor your credit regularly. In other words, you could order your credit report from Equifax in February, from Experian in June, and from Transunion in October. This way you can monitor your credit for suspicious activity three times a year.
3) Besides annualcreditreport.com, it is also possible to call the credit reporting agencies and order copies of your credit report. This is especially helpful for those of you who have people in your life who do not have access to the internet or are not computer literate.
4) If you notice suspicious activity when you review your report, you should consider placing a "fraud alert" on your account with the credit reporting agencies. A fraud alert will monitor your account for 90 days, and you will be notified of any activity associated with your credit.
5) If you regularly have problems with your credit, you can ask for a "credit freeze". This is a more drastic step than the fraud alert and freezes your credit so that no accounts can be opened without calling you first and asking a series of security questions. This will prevent a lot of fraud but will also make you have to prove who you are whenever you legitimately want to open an account or get a credit card.
6) If you ever feel that you have been the victim of identity theft, you should consider some further steps than what has been outline above. File a report with your local police. This step is very important. It is not important because the police department is necessarily going to find the culprit. It is important because it will serve as evidence if you are victimized again in the future. Also, cancel and renew all your accounts. You may want to consider contacting the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline for further advice. You also may want to notify the Social Security Administration.
