Have you ever received a pre-approved credit card or insurance offer? Did you know that these seemingly innocuous pieces of mail can be the key a thief needs to steal your identity?
Don’t wait. Opt out now
According to the Federal Trade Commission website, many credit card and insurance companies solicit new customers using criteria based on a credit report (pre-screening). If someone steals your mail, they can fill out the pre-approved application. Then all they need to do is wait for that card to arrive in your mailbox, steal it and start spending.
Register your name and address with OptOutPrescreen.com, the official consumer credit reporting industry website, and you will reduce the amount of junk mail you receive and help protect yourself from identity theft. Opting out doesn’t affect your credit score or your eligibility for credit or insurance.
When you register online with OptOutPrescreen.com. you are opting out for five years. Permanent removal is available but requires submitting a paper form through the mail. You will need to provide the website OptOutPrescreen.com with your home phone number, name, social security number, and date of birth. This information is confidential and will only be used to process your opt out request.
Identity theft is real, but with a little thought and some due diligence there are ways to protect yourself. This free service is a good first step.