Don't get suckered by impostor offers of free credit report

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2005 | by Sandra Block

Monitoring your credit reports is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from criminals who want to shoplift your identity. And starting Sept.1, everyone in the USA will be eligible to order a free credit report from the three major credit-reporting agencies.

But be careful. The Internet is littered with promotions for "free" credit reports, and many are back-door efforts to sell credit-monitoring services and other products, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Last week, Experian, one of the three major credit-reporting agencies, agreed to pay $950,000 to settle charges that it deceived consumers into signing up for its credit-monitoring service by offering free credit reports. The FTC said Experian's Internet sites, www.consumerinfo.com, failed...