Checking your credit report for suspicious activity is essential to combat identity theft. But if you go to the wrong site, your personal information could end up in the wrong hands. Just one Web site, www.annualcreditreport.com, provides free yearly credit reports as part of a federally required program.
To get the reports, you must enter sensitive information, including your Social Security number and birth date. And that’s why there are so many phishing sites with similar URLs. Some other sites tout free credit reports, but they aren’t part of the federal program and may charge you for credit monitoring after a trial membership.
Be sure to enter the URL directly into your Web browser’s address bar and check that you typed the address correctly. If you transpose, add or omit any letters, you could end up on a knockoff page. Avoid using a search engine, such as Google, to look up the site -- you could choose an incorrect page from the list of results.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
When you arrive on the home page, you’ll see the AnnualCreditReport.com logo at the top, plus a statement that it’s the only source of free credit reports authorized by federal law. At the lower right, look for the phrase “Brought to you by” followed by the logos of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
You can get all three of your reports at once. Or, if you’d rather keep tabs on your credit throughout the year, request one report every four months. AnnualCreditReport.com does not provide free credit scores, although you may be able to purchase a score when you get your free report. For more on free credit reports, go to the Federal Trade Commission's site.
-
Stocks Hit Fresh Highs Ahead of the Fed As Earnings Pump Optimism: Stock Market TodaySHW and UNH were two of the best Dow Jones stocks Tuesday, thanks to solid earnings reports, and MSFT closed with a $4 trillion market cap.
-
Selling Your Haunted House? What You Have to Tell Buyers (and What You Don’t)You don’t need ghosts to spook buyers, sometimes a home’s past is enough. Here’s what sellers should know about disclosure laws, pricing and perception when a property has a haunted history.
-
Seven Things You Should Do Now if You Think Your Identity Was StolenIf you suspect your identity was stolen, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself, but make sure you take action fast.
-
The 8 Financial Documents You Should Always ShredIdentity Theft The financial documents piling up at home put you at risk of fraud. Learn the eight types of financial documents you should always shred to protect yourself.
-
How to Guard Against the New Generation of Fraud and Identity TheftIdentity Theft Fraud and identity theft are getting more sophisticated and harder to spot. Stay ahead of the scammers with our advice.
-
12 Ways to Protect Yourself From Fraud and ScamsIdentity Theft Think you can spot the telltale signs of frauds and scams? Follow these 12 tips to stay safe from evolving threats and prevent others from falling victim.
-
Watch Out for These Travel Scams This SummerIdentity Theft These travel scams are easy to fall for and could wreck your summer. Take a moment to read up on the warning signs and simple ways to protect yourself.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
How to Guard Against Identity Theft in 2025Scammers are getting better at impersonating legitimate businesses.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2025Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to fund your retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2025 limits and income-based phaseouts.
