The e-mail below (or a similar version to it) has been making rounds on the internet for over a year spreading false information about credit reporting laws. This email has recently resurfaced as the anniversary of the Gramm-Leach-Blily Act (GLB) enactment approached. The claim in this email that consumer credit data will now be released to "anyone who requests it" it totally false and has nothing to do with the GLB other than the effective date of the law.

The phone number provided is a real number used by the credit reporting industry to allow consumers to "opt out" or be removed from the mailing lists sold by the major credit bureaus for pre-approved offers of credit. By providing your personal information to this number (1-888-567-8688 or 1-888-5OPTOUT) you are not going to become a victim of identity theft or not limiting the use of your credit report as claimed by the erroneous email. The standard requirements for "permissible purpose" by a legitimate business for access to your credit have not changed and do not allow "anyone who requests it" access to your information.If you get the below email please do not pass it along and continue to spread this false information.

Please remember the above email is an "Urban Myth" and contains numerous FALSE claims. Please do not help the spread of inaccurate information.