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Feds Spoof Bogus Credit Report Offers

FTC composes its own catchy jingle to counter commercial offers

March 10, 2009

To reinforce this message, the Federal Trade Commission is featuring two new videos with their own catchy tunes. Both videos are available at www.YouTube.com/FTCVideos.

The new videos highlight the differences between AnnualCreditReport.com and those other sites that claim to provide “free” credit reports. Other sites require users to pay hidden fees or agree to additional services.

For example, some sites provide a free credit report if you enroll in a new service. If you don’t cancel the service during a short trial period, you’re likely to see membership fees on your credit card statement.

Other sites may have names similar to AnnualCreditReport.com — one of the most blatant being FreeCreditReport.com, a profit-chasing subsidiary of Experian.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax — to provide a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months from AnnualCreditReport.com, a toll-free telephone number, or a mailing address.

Details are at www.ftc.gov/freereports. Reviewing your credit report regularly is an effective way to deter and detect identity theft.

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