Articles About Getting Clean Credit

Warning: Free Credit Report Imposter Websites Springing Up on the Web

A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies to provide consumers with a free copy of their credit report, upon request, once every 12 months.

Access to the free credit reports has been phased in beginning last December in the West and will finally be nationwide by 1 September. This is good news to consumers.

However, a new form of phishing, is manifesting itself even before access to free credit reports is available for all Americans.

The new law that requires the three national credit bureaus to provide a free annual credit report to consumers, has met with the law of unintended consequences. Although the law was initially created to help thwart identity theft, the process for requesting the free credit reports may in fact contribute to further identity theft or loss of privacy.

While the intent of the law was to make it easier for consumers to check for errors and possible evidence of identity theft in their credit reports, according to a new report by the World Privacy Forum, more than 200 imposter websites have sprung up trying to exploit one of the methods made available for consumers to apply for their free credit reports.

One of the methods by which consumers can apply for their free credit reports is through a website that was established jointly by the three credit bureaus. The official website for applying for the free credit reports is at http://www.annualcreditreport.com

But, if the identity thieves and other unscrupulous internet swindlers have their way, part of the very process sent up in an attempt to curtail identity theft, will leave consumers vulnerable to further loss of privacy.

The online pilferers create websites with domain names that are very close to the official website www.annualcreditreport.com. By registering similar names or close misspellings, such as wwwannualcreditreport.com (note the missing dot), creditannualreport.com and www.freeannualcreditreports.com they hope to entice consumers to unwittingly enter their private information into online web forms, thinking that they are on the official website.

Depending upon the level of personal information detail captured from the imposter websites, the swindlers can then use the garnered information for illegal purposes, sell the information to purveyors of personal information databases, or they can simply send the unsuspecting consumer to commercial websites.

While the majority of imposter websites, simply gather names, addresses, and email addresses and then send the consumer on to advertising sites, some sites attempt to gather social security numbers, birth dates, and other sensitive information.

To guard against the possibility of entering personal information on an imposter site, consumers can go to the official website from a link off from the www.ftc.gov website or call the official toll free number (877-322-8228) to get the free copy of their credit report.

Note: Strange as it may seem, your free annual credit report does not contain your credit score. For more information on your credit score, what it is, how it is used, and why it is important, see the resource box below.

Copyright 2005 George Dodge

George Dodge has been developing on the Web since 1994 and is owner of http://www.The-Credit-Repair-Center.com a source of information on personal finance management. For information on how you can also get a free copy of your credit score (which is NOT included with your annual free credit report), click here -> http://www.The-Credit-Repair-Center.com/scores/credit-scores.html Your Credit Score - Do You Know What It Is?

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Bad Credit Home Financing - Get The Mortgage Loan You Want Even With Poor Credit
Having poor credit alone cannot hold you back from getting the home loan you want. Buying a home that is everything you want in a home, is a very exciting experience.

Instant Bad Credit Loans - Loans for People with Bad Credit Score
Everyone ruins his or her credit score at some point of time or other. Not that they simply want to ruin it, the circumstances or lack of experience leads to bad credit score. Consider a student who just got his credit card. He will use it to the maximum in the excitement without even giving a though to the repayment, thereby getting a bad credit score. A bad credit score later becomes a hindrance to avail loans. One method to improve your credit score is to take instant bad credit loans.

Bad Credit Personal Loans - How To Get Approved For Bad Credit Personal Loans
Are you looking for a personal loan, but have bad credit? Do you need a loan for a car, debt consolidation, or any other reason whatsoever? If you have bad credit you will find it hard to get a good personal loan. Here is how to get bad credit personal loans without the hassle.

Bad Credit Tenant Loans: Designed For the People Who Have Bad Credit Score
Tenant loans are designed keeping in mind about their capabilities. But tenants with bad credits are different and face more problems than tenants with normal credit score. So to give them a much needed respite in times of financial exigencies bad credit tenant loans have been fabricated.

Bad Credit Unsecured Loans: Loans for Those with Bad Credit and No Collateral
Sometimes you may happen to fail to repay the market liabilities in proper time and lose your credit score. This labels you as a bad credit history holder. In this case it proves to be difficult for you to raise funds from the market to meet your financial needs. The lenders feel at risk to lend you money. The condition worsens when you have no collateral to place as a guarantee against the loan amount. For such needs bad credit history unsecured loans have been introduced. You need no assets as security deposit while applying for bad credit history tenant loans.

Bad Credit and Home Equity Loans - What to look for in a Home Equity Loan
While it may seem like common sense to be able to get a loan on the value you've built up in your own home, getting a home equity loan with a poor credit score is usually not easy. Below are some tips on how to get a home equity loan, even with bad credit.

Personal Loans With Bad Credit- Getting Personal Loans With Bad Credit Has Never Been Easier
Are you in need of a personal loan? Are you afraid that because you have bad credit you will struggle to find a lender that will be able to help you? Getting personal loans with bad credit has never been easier because lenders are struggling to find business right now. There are so many foreclosure, repossessions, and bankruptcies with the downturn of the economy that they lenders need to make loans just to make money. This is good for those of us with bad credit and here are your loan options.

Bad Credit Remortgage Loan: When Bad Credit Plays Mischief With Your Mortgage
Financial difficulties are married to bad credit. It is a tough marriage but can be peaceful with a little bit of counseling.

Credit Repair: Repair Bad Credit Card Debt Yourself
Credit repair and eliminating your credit card debt does not mean that you have to hire an expensive credit repair service. In fact, if you want to fix your credit you can do it yourself for free. I cannot promise that it will be easy but despite the glib promises made by professional services those are not easy either.

Bad Credit Home Loans - Dealing With Bad Credit Mortgage Companies Online
Dealing with mortgage companies online can enable you to get a home loan even with bad credit. Bank associates' skepticism and talk around are avoided when you apply online with a mortgage broker.

Bad Credit Mortgage Loans Online - How Your FICO Credit Score Can Affect Your Loan Approval
When applying for a mortgage loan when you have a bad credit history. There are a few things you should know about your FICO score that will help you know what to expect from mortgage lenders.

Loan With Bad Credit - Debt Consolidation Loan to Help Towards Credit Repair
Debt consolidation loan is the type of loan that replaces your multiple debts It is a new loan that arises from the merging of your original loans and has much lower interest rates

Credit Cards For People With Bad Credit, Poor Credit Or Poor Credit Score
Bad Credit is a term used to describe someone who is considered a "high risk" to lenders and other finance companies such as factors.

Compare Bad Credit Credit Card Offers: Credit-Card-Surplus.com Adds 2 New Bad Credit Credit Cards, Offering Consumers a Complete List of Bad Credit Of
www.Credit-Card-Surplus.com announces the addition of two new bad credit credit cards to its website, creating more options for those who have less than perfect credit. Consumers that have filed for bankruptcy or have a low credit score qualify for bad credit credit cards. When used properly, these cards enable customers to rebuild their credit and improve their standings among lenders. With the addition of the Total Visa® Card, and the Access Visa® Card, www.Credit-Card-Surplus.com provides a total of 13 bad credit cards for consumers to compare.