Even if the best time to order a free annual credit report is considered to be the month January, it is also the time when you might get the surprise that someone has used your credit card or identity for getting some extra-money for holidays.
The period from November until January is, as the Identity Theft Resource Center reports, the most prosper moment for the thieves. They are somehow protected by the never ending shopping made now. People love to give, and receive, presents.
Anyone could be a victim. It doesn’t take long until you find a message from your credit card company saying they have discovered an odd pattern of purchases on your card. You will have your account number changed and the thief will have presents for the beloved.
It seems that the delinquents were running numbers randomly until the combination worked using a sophisticated computer program and they may get away because the addresses on which the merchandise is sent is, of course, a wrong one.
The credit cards report must be required because, if fraudulent purchases on credit cards are easier to detect, fraudulent applications for loans aren’t.
Three major credit reporting agencies of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are willing to give one annual free report to the citizens. According to the Federal Trade Commission, only 22 percent of Americans have ordered a free copy since December 2004.
There are few ways on which the consumers can order free reports: the address www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228, www.consumersunion.org/ finance/YourCreditMatters.html. This is a free online guide also and it is offered by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine.
The Federal Trade Commission's Web site, www.ftc.gov, is also a good way for receiving information.If someone has illegally used your identity, visit: www.idtheftcenter.org for suggestions.
