You already probably have heard that when The Fair Credit Reporting Act was passed you were entitled to a free credit report. You are entitled to this free access to your financial history once every 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get my free credit report?

Most people get them from the FTC authorized website Annual Free Credit Report.com. This resource provides information to you from one of the three major financial bureaus-Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

What purpose does this free report serve?

It provides for you a summary of all your recent and past transactions and payment history. It also provides you with a credit score and helps you become aware of any identity theft problems.

Is there any way other than using the Internet that I can used to obtain my financial info?

You can request a copy of your financial history by mail. You are not likely to receive it instantly but you are probably going to receive it within 15 days. This often is done by people who simply do not feel safe using the Internet.

Can a third party access my financial information?

Usually only authorized, licensed lenders can obtain your financial history. However, this is only done with your consent as you sign a release form.

How does monitoring my credit prevent identity theft?

You will be alerted about any unauthorized transactions as soon as possible. This will be the first step in taking action that will help get your record cleared. It could save you from a world of trouble.

How can I better protect myself from future identity theft?

Shred all-important financial documents when no longer needed. Store all financial information in secure places where no one can find it. Furthermore, choose very carefully where you shop online and do not give your credit card or banking information to vendors you do not know.

The opportunity to work at home is becoming far more acceptable than in the past. However, of course unscrupulous, deceitful people still run home business and home income scams. This has greatly increased ever since the Internet has been used.

Here are some simple tips for identifying work at home scams:

• Remember that if you are seeking regular employment in a telecommuting position you should not have to pay the employer. No legitimate employer is going to require you to purchase registration packets or ask you to pay an application fee.
• Beware of opportunities supposedly requiring no experience (“no experience necessary”). Be particularly cautious of opportunities, which claim you can make large sums of money even with very little training. This may be possible, but this is not necessarily a regular work at home job but rather a home business opportunity.
• Beware of ads that read “Work at Home” in the job description title. This is not an actual “position” but a type of job. Although there are legitimate opportunities out there, oftentimes scammers will take advantage of free job posting opportunities to lure in desperate people.
• You may have seen some of the ads on TV, which convince you to sign up for what is supposedly a “lucrative business opportunity.” You are then often told about the long vacations you can take and how you can make money even while you are sleeping and so on. This may eventually be the case, but keep in mind that it takes work and does not come easy.
• A major red flag about a specific business opportunity which claims you can make money and not leave your house is if it has received horrible Better Business Bureau (BBB) rankings. If it has received a “C” or worse rating, beware.

How Scammers Operate

Oftentimes these fraudulent schemers will find a way to acquire your personal information. For instance, maybe they will entice you to sign up for a trial that only costs a dollar.

Sometimes when doing so, they use payment transaction systems that are not at all encrypted. This is how they obtain your credit card information. In some cases, they may also insist that they take your birthdate, driver’s license number, or social security number.

While legitimate website may need this info, beware of signing on with a supposed work at home opportunity that may indeed be a total fraud. Being careful will save you from numerous problems, such as being the victim of identity theft, loss of bank savings account funds, or unauthorized charges.