Free Credit Report - A Website Typo Could Be Costly
In 2003, Congress passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions act (FACT), which made it possible for consumers to obtain a copy of their credit report for free. In fact, the legislation makes it possible for consumers to obtain one free report from each of the three main credit bureaus - Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax, per year. All that is necessary to do so is to write, call or log on to the Website the credit bureaus have created for this purpose. Millions of Americans have done so, and the program has been called a success so far. There's just one problem - unscrupulous individuals have created Websites with similar names, and consumers who type the names wrong have ended up at sites designed to steal their Social Security numbers.
At last count, there were more than two hundred registered domain names with names that were similar to the official annualcreditreport.com or which contained the phrase "annual credit report." Since it is quite easy to misspell a domain name, particularly a long one, many consumers have found themselves at sites other than the one they intended to visit. Most of these other Websites exist for the purpose of selling a credit report, rather than providing them for free, but others are designed to fool the consumer into providing personal information that the site owners may be able to exploit for personal gain. Other sites with similar names merely offer advertising or redirect visitors to porn sites.
What's to be done? Not much, it would appear. Several of the sites that were created to fool consumers into providing personal information have been taken offline, but others will undoubtedly follow. Any sites that are established outside of the United States are immune to U.S. law, so it may be difficult for authorities to take any action. Consumers who are not overly familiar with the workings of the Internet would be better off contacting the credit bureaus directly by mail or phone. Anyone who uses the Internet to obtain a copy of their credit report should make sure that they are typing the name of the Website accurately. Failure to do so may lead to involuntarily providing vital personal information to people who shouldn't have it.
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.
Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to personal bankruptcy, debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans.
MORE RESOURCES:
 GulfNews | Bush: US will work with partners on credit crisis The Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush says world's wealthiest industrial countries will work together to attack the credit crisis spreading around the globe. ... World Leaders Offer Unity But No Steps To Ease Crisis Bush vows coordination with world powers on financial crisis Time to Act |
 Boston Globe | Without real leadership, we face disaster guardian.co.uk, UK - There is a combination of a worldwide bank run, seizure of credit markets and collapse of asset values that could plunge the globe into a depression. ... Video: Overseas Markets Fall on Financial Turmoil Fears Asian credit default costs soar to record - traders Stocks rally fades on credit market worries |
 The Associated Press | US will work with partners on credit crisis: Bush CBC.ca, Canada - It was the 21st time in 26 days that the president has spoken publicly about the credit crisis gripping financial markets and dragging down stock markets. ... Video: Bush: 'We Must Work Collaborately to End Crisis' |
Is my credit union safe? Los Angeles Times, CA - By E. Scott Reckard, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer The government-run National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund insures most deposits at credit unions, ... Credit unions alternative to banks Got Your Money in a Credit Union? You Too Are Safe In tumultuous financial times, credit unions might be an option to ... |
 China Daily | Lehman Credit-Default Swap Payout Could Climb as High as $365 Billion Washington Post, United States - By Heather Landy NEW YORK, Oct. 10 -- In what may shape up to be the most expensive payout ever in the credit-default swap market, sellers of insurance ... STOP FINANCIAL WMD'S: Credit Default Swaps Lehman Credit-Swap Auction Sets Payout of 91.38 Cents (Update1) Insurance on Lehman Debt Is the Industry’s Next Test |
 BBC News | Credit crisis should not hurt poor, ministers urge Reuters - By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major economies should not use the global credit crunch as an excuse to renege on aid promises to poor countries ... Video: IMF: Timing right for G7 Credit CRISIS ALERT IMF endorses plan by rich countries to fight credit crisis |
 Los Angeles Times | Fears Grow That Tight Credit Could Crush GM, Ford NPR - Standard & Poor's downgraded the credit of both companies and their financing arms this week. AFP/Getty Images Ford F-150 trucks sit at a dealership in ... Video: Money Minute: GM, GE, Oil CREDIT WATCH HITS GM, FORD GM, Ford too big to fail? |
Is the era of easy credit over for the long haul? International Herald Tribune, France - For Clark, and for a nation of consumers heavily dependent on credit, there are growing signs that those rough times could prove to be more than just a ... |
 WNCT | Anatomy of the American Financial Crisis: How It is Turning into a ... Center for Research on Globalization, Canada - Its failure created a domino effect among other international banks that had lent to each other in the international credit chain. ... Where did all that 'lost' money go? Credit freeze sees small cracks Market news this week for strong stomachs |
Financial troubles spread to credit unions Los Angeles Times, CA - By E. Scott Reckard, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer It's not just giant banks on the brink these days: Losses are clobbering nonprofit credit unions that ... |
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