Avoid Phishing Scams When Checking Your Credit Rating

Be wary of anybody who offers you a ‘free credit report’ as a come-on for anything. You’re entitled to a free credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus anyway and you can apply for them yourself without going through anybody else. In fact, it’s best you do it that way. You will avoid being caught in a ‘phishing expedition’ where your identity is stolen online.

A ‘phishing expedition’ is usually an e-mail or phone call where someone asks for personal information. The e-mail often looks quite convincing and legitimate. If anybody e-mails you or calls you asking for personal information, be very, very suspicious. Do not give personal information upon solicitation. Your bank, the Social Security office, your utilities, already know who you are. If they need information, they will tell you to contact them. Use the contact information on your bills/ statements—not the contact information in a suspect e-mail.

How do I know if I’m a victim if identity theft?

The most obvious way is to lose your wallet, or have it stolen. You can alert the credit bureaus if this happens. They will know there is a possibility your identity will be used for purchases you didn’t authorize. It may not happen, but it’s best to be prepared.

Sometimes people get a call from their bank if they happen to smell a rat. If you’re home and answer the phone at the same time your card is being used to try to buy a yacht in Tahiti, that could be a clue!

Your best defense is to keep a close eye on your credit card statements and make sure you can verify every transaction. You can do this because you keep all your receipts and file them chronologically and make notes on them if you need to, right? Right.

To alert the credit bureaus you only need to contact any one of them-they will alert the others.

This is the contact information to report a suspected fraud:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

The Federal Trade commission has an excellent page on procedures to follow if you have been victimized by identity thieves:
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/con_steps.htm

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