Every time you pay a bill, data is sent to a credit reporting agency. Errors can be made. It’s important to know where to look to see if your credit information is correct, stolen, or purchased. Today’s guest is Steve Baker. Steve is chairman of the Privacy Rights Institute. He is a lawyer and previously served as a leader at the FTC for over 27 years addressing consumer fraud in areas like telemarketing and spamming. Steve now writes The Baker Fraud Report, a free weekly newsletter covering consumer fraud from around the world.

Show Notes:

• [1:08] - Steve shares what he currently does with The Baker Fraud Report and his career background.
• [2:46] - In the field of consumer fraud, there is always something to learn.
• [3:27] - The Privacy Rights Institute is meant to educate people on their rights regarding credit reporting.
• [5:02] - With tons of pieces of data, errors can occur.
• [6:05] - Steve shares some of the people who can pull your credit report.
• [7:34] - One error happens when people with the same name get mixed up.
• [9:04] - Steve explains how the system is supposed to work.
• [11:07] - Unfortunately the credit reporting agencies have poor customer service.
• [12:54] - Credit reports can also be pulled by employees and associates at places like car dealerships. There’s no stopping them from searching anyone.
• [13:40] - Data breaches are also a concern and can lead to identity theft.
• [15:27] - The Los Angeles school district recently experienced a data breach through ransomware.
• [17:25] - There are some alternatives that are starting to come out for security.
• [18:56] - With the increase in people changing jobs and the economy in its current state, credit reports are being pulled more frequently at the moment.
• [21:09] - You can get a copy of your credit report once a year. Do this at AnnualCreditReport.com.
• [22:26] - If you see an error, reporting it to one agency is good. Keep an eye on your credit card bills.
• [24:24] - Scammers have also been known to alter recordings of your voice on the phone.
• [26:04] - If you see an unusual charge, don’t try to locate or contact the person who made the charge.
• [27:48] - Currently, the best way for scammers to get your money is through cryptocurrency.
• [29:07] - Immigrants are particularly hit hard by scammers and credit report confusion.
• [31:01] - Keep an eye on your credit reports and periodically check for errors.
• [32:06] - Steve explains how credit repair works and what to look for.

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