5. Preventing Fraud and Scams
e. Opt-out
How can you make your personal information less widely available? Opt-out! By “opting out,” you can limit access to your personal information.
- Stop receiving prescreened credit offers by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT.
- Reduce telemarketing by signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry.
- Notify each of the three major credit bureaus that you do not want personal information about you shared for promotional purposes.
- Contact your financial institution to inquire about limiting the amount of information they give out about you. You have the right to opt out of some information sharing including:
- Affiliates: part of the same corporate group as your financial company.
- Non-affiliates: not part of the same corporate group.
- Records of your transactions: such as your loan payments, credit card or debit card purchases, and checking and savings account statements—to firms that provide data processing and mailing services for the company.
- Your payment history on loans and credit cards to credit bureaus.
- Where can I get help?
- Decline pre-screened offers by calling 1-888-567-8688.
- Privacy policy questions: If you have questions or concerns about a company’s privacy policy, first contact that company directly. If you still have questions about your privacy rights in dealing with a financial company, you can contact the federal or state agency that oversees that type of company.
- The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System regulates state-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System, bank holding companies, and branches of foreign banks: www.federalreserve.gov
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regulates state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System: www.fdic.gov