Education Center

Annual Credit Report.com is the ONLY authorized source for the FREE ANNUAL CREDIT REPORT that’s yours by law.  The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies – Experian, Equifax, and Transunion – every 12 months.  Click on the link below to access your report.  Remember, you’re only entitled to one annual free report.  Additional reports are available, but for a fee.

Credit Report

If you do not wish to use the online link above to order your credit report, you may also call 1-877-322-8228 to request your report.  The form can also be found on the back of the Annual Credit Report brochure you will receive by calling 1-877-322-8228. Or you can print it from ftc.gov/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit reports only through annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228, and by sending mail to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Only one website is authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report you are entitled to under law — annualcreditreport.com. Other websites that claim to offer "free credit reports," "free credit scores," or "free credit monitoring" are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program. In some cases, the "free" product comes with strings attached. For example, some sites sign you up for a supposedly "free" service that converts to one you have to pay for after a trial period. If you don’t cancel during the trial period, you may be unwittingly agreeing to let the company start charging fees to your credit card.

Some "imposter" sites use terms like "free report" in their names; others have URLs that purposely misspell annualcreditreport.com in the hope that you will mistype the name of the official site. Some of these "imposter" sites direct you to other sites that try to sell you something or collect your personal information.

Annualcreditreport.com and the nationwide consumer reporting companies will not send you an email asking for your personal information. If you get an email, see a pop-up ad, or get a phone call from someone claiming to be from annualcreditreport.com or any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, do not reply or click on any link in the message. It’s probably a scam. Forward any such email to the FTC at spam@uce.gov

Preventing identity theft and the resulting fraud is one of the largest challenges we face today.  While retailers and financial institutions have instituted many security measures for your protection as you conduct transactions, there are equally as many things you must do as a consumer as well.  The FDIC provides tools and tips regarding Identity Theft.  We encourage you to study what you can do to help keep your identity your own. 

What is Spoofing?
Spoofing is when a caller falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers often use neighbor spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or spoof a number from a company or government agency that you may already know and trust. If you answer, they use scam scripts to steal your money or personal information to commit fraud. Learn how to avoid spoofing calls by visiting the Federal Communications Commission website. 

• Use the passcode lock on your smartphone and other devices. This will make it more difficult for thieves to access your information if your device is lost or stolen.
• Protect your phone from viruses and malicious software, or malware, just like you do for your computer by installing mobile security software.
• Download the updates for your phone and mobile apps.
• Use caution when downloading apps. Apps can contain malicious software, worms, and viruses. Beware of apps that ask for unnecessary “permissions.”

• Tell your financial institution immediately if you change your phone number or lose your mobile device.
• Be aware of shoulder surfers. The most basic form of information theft is observation. Be aware of your surroundings especially when you’re punching in sensitive information.
• Wipe your mobile device before you donate, sell or trade it using specialized software or using the manufacturer’s recommended technique. Some software allows you to wipe your device remotely if it is lost or stolen.
• Beware of mobile phishing. Avoid opening links and attachments in emails and texts, especially from senders you don’t know. And be wary of ads (not from your security provider) claiming that your device is infected.
• Watch out for public Wi-Fi. Public connections aren't very secure, so don’t perform banking transactions on a public network. If you need to access your account, try disabling the Wi-Fi and switching to your mobile network.
• Report any suspected fraud to your bank immediately.