The following information has been provided by the Federal Trade Commission, and are legitimate sources that will require you to provide certain personal information.

OPT OUT WEBSITE

This is the website to go to for removal of your name from firm offers of credit and insurance. This one site will remove your name from all 4 major credit reporting agencies. Note: by completing this web-based form you will be opted out for 5 years. To permanently opt-out you must print the form and mail it to them after you have finished.

www.optoutprescreen.com

PRE-SCREENED CREDIT CARD OFFERS:

The credit bureaus sell your information to financial institutions wishing to entice you with pre-approved credit card offers. You can "opt-out" from receiving these offers by calling 1-888-567-8688. The three major credit bureaus share this number, so you don't have to call each bureau separately. This is an automated number that allows you to opt-out permanently or for two years. A confirmation letter should be sent to your home address.

PROMOTIONAL AND MARKETING LISTS:

The credit bureaus also sell your information to businesses for promotional purposes. This is the list where many coupons, catalogs, and "special offers" come from. To opt-out from this list, you need to write the three major credit bureaus at the below listed addresses. Provide your name, address, telephone number and tell them to, "not share your personal information for promotional or marketing purposes."

Equifax, Inc.
Options
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

Experian Consumer Opt Out
701 Experian Way
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
Marketing List Opt Out
P.O. Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328

DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION (DMA):

The DMA Mail and Telephone Preference Services allow you to opt-out of receiving direct mail marketing and telemarketing calls from many national companies for five years. You can also opt-out through the E-mail Preference Service to help reduce the number of unsolicited commercial e-mails for one year. By contacting the below addresses in writing or via e-mail, you will be put on a "delete" list.

Direct Mail Marketing :

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Or go online at

www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html

Telemarketing:

Direct Marketing Association
Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512

Or go online at:

www.the-dma.org/consumers/offtelephonelist.html

E-mail:

Go online at:

www.dmaconsumers.org/offemaillist.html

In addition, many of the financial institutions that you currently have credit cards, loans, mortgages, etc will sell your information directly to other businesses wishing to solicit your business. There is no central number or address to stop this, so if your goal is "TOTAL OPT-OUT", you will need to contact each of your financial institutions and your utility companies to request that they not share or sell your information. By law, they must allow you to be deleted from these lists.

A Final Safety Note: You should never give your personal information to anyone unless you know who you are dealing with. Your credit card company will never call YOU to verify account information. If you are ever suspicious, you should ask to call back, and use the 800 number on the back of your credit card.

It is a good idea to order a copy of your credit report at least once per year. You may already be a victim of an Identity Crime, and not know it if you have not viewed your credit report lately. Make sure all of the information is correct and accurate. A strange address on the header is often a sign that an Identity Thief may have tried to open an account in your name. Make sure that all accounts that you have previously closed or canceled are properly reflected in the report. Many of us sign up for store accounts to receive a discount on our first purchase. If you are not actively using that account - close it out. Remember, this is a report of your information.

The report costs about $9, and takes about 1-2 weeks to be mailed to you. The contact information for the 3 credit bureaus is provided below.

EQUIFAX:

To order your report call: 1-800-685-1111

Or go online at: www.equifax.com

To report fraud call: 1-800-525-6285
and write to:
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

EXPERIAN:

To order your report call: 1-888-397-3742

Or go online at: www.experian.com

To report fraud call: 1-888-397-3742
and write to:
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013

TRANSUNION:

To order your report call: 800/888-4213

or go online at: www.transunion.com

To report fraud call: 1-800-680-7289
and write to:
Fraud Victim Assistance Dept.
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790