What is Optoutprescreen.com and is it Legit?
Optoutprescreen.com lets you opt out of pre-approved credit cards and the risk of credit card fraud.
Identity theft and credit card fraud are two of the worst threats facing consumers. The news is full of
identity theft stories in which the victim's credit rating is destroyed. Who doesn't worry about their credit
cards being stolen from their mailbox? What's worse, it might be a credit card you didn't even apply for! Those
credit card pre-approvals from banks and other lending institutions pose a hidden danger. What if you could
opt out of these pre-screened credit card offers? Now you can at Optoutprescreen.com
The Danger of Credit Card Pre-Approvals
Those pre-approved credit card offers are more than annoying. If a criminal steals your mail, fills out
a credit card application that's been pre-approved and sends it in they've just applied for a credit card
...in your name. Now they just have to watch for it to arrive in your mailbox. Once it does they'll be
able to go shopping armed with your credit card. It's that easy. So what can be done to combat it? You
may not have requested these pre-approvals, but it's your credit that's damaged in this scheme. This is
why we recommend using OptOutPrescreen.com to block credit card pre-approvals unless you prefer adding
to your growing collection of credit cards. I have four already but use only two. Using OptOutPrescreen
was a no-brainer for me.
Optoutprescreen.com Blocks Access to Your Credit History
Several years ago the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies acted to alleviate consumer anxiety by providing a
means to stop to credit card and insurance solicitation. You know these credit reporting companies as EquiFax,
Experian, TransUnion and Innovis. Together they created Optoutprescreen.com so that consumers could
send in requests for removal (opt out) from pre-approved credit card and insurance offers. These offers are also referred
to as "firm offers" of either credit or insurance. You are also given the choice of opting out for five years or you
can opt out of firm offers permanantly. If you have already decided to
opt out of firm offers and would like to opt back in (hey, it could happen) OptoutPrescreen.com provides a means for that as well. Opting out
will not remove you from mailing lists! Don't be alarmed if six months after opting out you still receive credit card
offers. What you have opted out of are unauthorized credit checks. A bank can request your credit history without
your authorization and then "pre-approve" you for a credit card. This is the "prescreen" part that is the cause of
all the problems because this is where the danger lies. It doesn't do a criminal
much good to your intercept mail only to find out you were declined.
Many people have wondered if www.optoutprescreen.com is a legitimate website and not just a scam itself. While the website is
very basic, it is secured by 128bit SSL to protect the information you send. Optoutprescreen.com is actually what it
appears to be and that is a way to get off those mailing lists. Yes, they do ask you for your social security number,
however, they need to be able to verify your identity.
Type in www.optoutprescreen.com yourself!
If a link to www.optoutprescreen.com should arrive in an email addressed to you, don't click it. Always type in the address ( https://www.optoutprescreen.com) yourself. Don't forget the s
in the URL because that ensures the encryption of your data when you submit the form. A good
rule of thumb is to never, ever click links in email that request your personal information. Criminals create elaborate
mockups of banking and other well known sites. No legitimate site would request information requiring you
to click a link to "fix your account" or resubmit personal information you've already provided. This is called Phishing. We recommend educating yourself about it, if you intend to do
anything involving your money online. Always type in the web address when your financial accounts are involved. In this case you will be submitting your Social Security number and if that
gets into the wrong hands you could have all kinds of problems. While this site is completely legitimate make sure that you are actually on it when submitting your request to have the credit
reporting companies discontinue their practice of allowing credit card companies to scan your credit history at will.
The real www.Optoutprescreen.com is not a Phishing scam
Optoutprescreen.com is not a bunch of identity thieves who have cooked up the best scam ever. It's another tool
you can use to fight identity theft and credit card fraud. OptOutPrescreen.com is run by the four major credit rating companies - Experian, Equifax, Innovis and TransUnion.
I have opted out using this site and encourage anyone that doesn't want to receive pre-approved credit card offers anymore to do the same.
Some concerns about Optoutprescreen.com
First of all we have to acknowledge that people don't trust the credit reporting companies very much if at all. We have all heard the news stories involving breaches
of security that let criminals access the records of hundreds of thousands of people. You may also wonder why you have to opt out in the first place. Shouldn't
credit card companies need your permission to run a credit check on you? In a perfect world the answer would most certainly be yes but sadly this is the way
it is and if you want to stop those offers from appearing in your mailbox you will need to play by their rules.
Some are worried about the Optoutprescreen Privacy Policy
It's the privacy policy that really raises a few eyebrows. The information you submit will be available to the four credit reporting companies
running Optoutprescreen as expected but the fine print reveals the following:
Optoutprescreen.com or the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies, may also disclose any of the information collected, as described above, to affiliates of the Consumer
Credit Reporting Companies, which are companies that are related to one of them by common ownership or affiliated with one of them by common control, or to the
associated consumer reporting companies who utilize a nationwide consumer reporting company system and that may have information about you."
At first glance this might look a little fishy but think about it before you let paranoia take hold of you. You want to stop as many pre-approval offers as possible
and this means that your opt-out request needs to be available to anyone that might send you an offer. We already know that by default they can run your credit
report anyway so what you are adding to the mix is that you don't want them to and you don't want their offer. There is some more fine print which might make more
than a few of you scratch your heads:
Each third party receiving this information is either required to (i) abide by the restrictions in this privacy policy and is not permitted to use or disclose the
information for any purpose other than as described in this policy, or (ii) receive and use the information in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act,
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and other regulatory and legal requirements.
This gives the credit-reporting affiliates the option to use one of two sets of rules and regulations. It does not say that they can now use your information anyway
they see fit. If you go ahead and opt-out via Optoutprescreen and you are still getting offers three months later you should probably ask questions but give it a
chance to work. Your information is already out there so submitting this request only checks the "Opt Out" box in their system. Keep in mind that the credit card
companies will try to get you agree to opt back in every time you sign up for credit so read the fine print on just about anything you sign up for involving credit
or banking. If you see something such as "We reserve the right to run credit checks on you and send you credit card pre-approvals if you sign this form" and then you
sign the form you have no one but yourself to blame. Once you opt out, pay attention any time you sign up for anything so you don't find yourself needing to opt out
on a regular basis.
Optoutprescreen.com gets a facelift
We just noticed on October, 17 2005 that Optoutprescreen.com looks a lot more professional than it it did before. Thank goodness for that because the site it replaced
was of such poor design that it's no wonder a lot of people questioned its credibility. Don't worry. It's the same site it always was and it's still being run by the
same credit reporting companies as before. All that's changed is that the interface is a little slicker. They do try and convince you that opting out might not be
such a good idea and they give you ample opportunity to opt back in once you have decided to opt out. Hmmmm, maybe identity theft will appeal to me at a later time.
Well, if I lose my mind and decide that opting out permanently just isn't for me I know just where to go.
Tips to help you avoid credit card fraud
- Don't carry credit cards you don't use and never leave them unattended in a purse, briefcase or wallet.
- Always make sure you get your credit card receipt because it just may include your credit card number. Never toss it in a public trash bin. You'll need that receipt later anyway to tally things up when your statement arrives.
- Shred all documents that might include your credit card number before disposing of them - old slips, credit card statements, bills, anything.
- Never give your number over the phone to someone that you do not know. It's OK if you initiate the call but if you get a call at home from anyone that you do not know by name do not give them your credit card number.
- Never respond to an e-mail asking for your number, no matter how official or legitimate it looks. These bogus e-mails are the #1 fraud right now on the Internet.
- Review your monthly statement as soon as it comes and report any problems right away. To insure your rights, follow-up by filing a written complaint form.
More Information on Optoutprescreen.com
Reduce your junk mail
FTC's Identity Theft Home
Direct Marketing Association
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