Apartment Rental Credit Check Scam

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ThePowersThatBe

Registered: 23.02.11

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Posts: 151
Posted: 08.04.2011, 22:41

This is a simple scam done through affiliate marketing. The scammer will advertise properties for rent all over the nation through popular free websites. The advertisements will look like any other rental property ad, vague and without an address. As people respond to the ad, the scammer will email them a rental application (fake), a request for a credit report (an affiliate link in the email), and a request to set up a time and day to do a walk-through of the property. The scam is the affiliate link to the "free credit report." After you sign up with the credit report company, you will be told by the prospective landlord/scammer that the property has been rented. You will move on with your house/apartment hunting and be none the wiser until you start getting billed for the "free credit report monitoring" on your credit card. The scammer gets paid for everyone he signs up on the affiliate link.
skamdeth

Registered: 01.11.10

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Posts: 17
Posted: 08.04.2011, 23:50

I wish that the credit report sites would end their affiliate programs, or make them less open to abuse.
ThePowersThatBe

Registered: 23.02.11

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Posted: 09.04.2011, 02:48

skamdeth said:
I wish that the credit report sites would end their affiliate programs, or make them less open to abuse.

There is only one "free" credit report and that is done annually.
FlakeMistress

Registered: 25.01.09

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Posted: 09.04.2011, 07:45

ThePowersThatBe said:
skamdeth said:
I wish that the credit report sites would end their affiliate programs, or make them less open to abuse.

There is only one "free" credit report and that is done annually.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/freereports/index.shtml

The site above takes you to that official free credit report information.

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Frosted Flakes Are Filling!
jkrasco

Registered: 17.06.11

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Posted: 18.06.2011, 03:41

If you clicked on the link, and submitted your name, and address, but no credit card information. Is there a way that these people can get anymore information?? What should i do to protect myself??
gpho

Registered: 21.06.11

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Posted: 21.06.2011, 21:18

I clicked a link similar to the one reported here http://flakelist.org/page/viewpub/tid/1/pid/4984 and signed up for an account with Free Credit Nation, but only afterwards found out it was a scam, and thus deleted the account. Should I be worried about identity/information theft?

Thanks for the helpful information, and I appreciate any further help I can get.
FlakeMistress

Registered: 25.01.09

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Posts: 477
Posted: 22.06.2011, 01:01

Gpho, I would contact Free Credit Nation somehow and make sure that they cancel your account and do NOT charge your credit card a monthly fee.

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Frosted Flakes Are Filling!
ThePowersThatBe

Registered: 23.02.11

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Posts: 151
Posted: 22.06.2011, 03:11

Gpho, to avoid a monthly fee you have to call customer service to cancel 1-888-601-5190. You have 7 days from the date of registration. You are going to be charged $29.95 for the credit report you requested.

I would mention that you're aware of the affliate scam and try to get a refund. Sometimes the mention of bad PR gets you results.
gpho

Registered: 21.06.11

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Posted: 22.06.2011, 03:25

Thanks FlakeMistress and TPTB for your replies. I already cancelled my account when I found out, but I don't know if they have charged me $29.95 -- I will call again tomorrow. Do you think there is any need to cancel my credit card or worry about identity theft?
ThePowersThatBe

Registered: 23.02.11

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Posts: 151
Posted: 22.06.2011, 15:23

Put a fraud alert on your credit report to prevent anyone from opening an account in your name. Call TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289. For more info go to ftc.gov.
Sand2255

Registered: 29.07.11

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Posts: 1
Posted: 29.07.2011, 18:47

Is there any way Craigslist can scan & block Andrew480@aol.com and other scammers?