Dear Readers,
Consumers have reported receiving automated calls asking for their Social Security numbers and other personal information in order to opt out of marketing mailing lists.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you ("Firm Offers"). The FCRA also provides you the right to "Opt-Out", which prevents CRAs from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.
The national credit reporting agencies (CRAs) host a joint service to allow consumers to exercise their right to opt out by calling a toll free number (1 888 5OPT OUT / 1 888 567 8688) or online at www.optoutprescreen.com.
The National Opt Out service does not make any outbound phone calls, so calls offering marketing opt out are not authentic.
Reports indicate that the caller ID number that displays on these calls is 302-268-6660. This number is in no way associated with the National Opt Out program hosted by the CRAs.
We recommend that you hang up if you receive a call of this nature.
If you would like to be opted-out or find out more information about the National Opt-Out program, please visit: www.optoutprescreen.com or call the National Opt-Out program automated line at 888 5OPT-OUT (888 567-8688).
If you have already provided your Social Security number and other sensitive information on a call that you did not initiate or at 302-268-6660, we recommend that you add an initial fraud security alert to your credit report as a precaution. To add the alert, please visit Experian's Fraud Center or call 1 888 397 3742. We will share your alert request with the other national credit reporting agencies.
Thanks for reading.
The "Ask Experian" team