topic Re: Experian Dark Web Scan in Community Chat

Experian Dark Web Scan

DJP — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:15:56 GMT

Wondering if anyone has used this. It only states an email scan.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

poppinfresh — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:19:33 GMT

Yep, used it and when you get to the end, they want to charge you for the info.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

DJP — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:21:46 GMT

@poppinfresh This is supposed to be free. That's pathetic. I guess I'll pass.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

poppinfresh — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:23:58 GMT

I know...I felt the same way. They tell you your email is out there, but then they want $$ to tell you where. Your right...pathetic

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

dooBdoo — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:55:55 GMT

No. Absolutely not. I think it's dangerously deceptive, self-serving (for Experian) advertising and causes more problems for those who use it. Remember, we are not the customers of credit reporting agencies -- we are their product, their merchandise.

There are many articles on the internet. Here are excerpts from one that I think does a good job of explaining what really happens to those who accept this "free" scan:

" ...The search box makes a stab at transparency by stating that inputting your email means you’re giving Experian permission to pitch its own products as well as “other products that may be of interest.”

It also says you’re agreeing to Experian’s terms of service.

But that hardly comes close to a full disclosure of what’s transpiring. I clicked on Experian’s terms of service and found a densely written, nearly 17,600-word document — a contract the length of a novella.

Not surprisingly, this is where you’ll find an arbitration clause preventing you from suing the company — an increasingly common aspect of consumer contracts nowadays.

That’s the least of your worries, though.

It turns out running a free dark-Web email scan opens you up to “advertisements or offers for available credit cards, loan options, financial products or services, or credit-related products or services and other offers to customers.”

It also exposes you to “the ability to track and collect certain consumer information specific to you,” including your credit score, loan and credit card payments, and interest rates.

The terms reveal that Experian “receives compensation for the marketing of credit opportunities or other products or services available through third parties,” which is exactly what it sounds like.

You’re giving permission for the company to sell you out.

And if you make it to the very bottom of the contract — no small feat, I assure you — you’ll find this little cow chip: Even if you cancel any Experian service, your acceptance of the arbitration clause “shall survive.”

For the rest of your natural life? That seems to be the presumption.

Claudia Kubowicz Malhotra, an associate professor of marketing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said two big problems with Experian’s pitch are that no one will read 17,600 words of fine print and that relatively few consumers have the slightest idea what the dark Web is... "

please see the entire article at:

http:// www . latimes . com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-experian-dark-web-20170922-story.html

(remove spaces to copy and paste the URL or search for "Credit agency Experian says it can protect you from the 'dark Web' — sort of" at LATimes dot com)

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

RedHeadedWench — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:39:00 GMT

@poppinfresh wrote:
Yep, used it and when you get to the end, they want to charge you for the info.

Yeah, and they probably scare people to death that their information is out there..even if it isn’t.

Granted stuff is out there, which is why you have to change passwords frequently, PIN numbers, and be vigilant about password scanners on ATM machines.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

Snowpuppy — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:40:07 GMT

Gee. What are the chances of them finding something?! 100%

Then pay a fee for them to "monitor".

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

dex — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:50:02 GMT

~~@dooBdoo thanks for doing all of the investigative work for us.I really appreciate your hard work.I think I will take your advice and steer clear.~~

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

Blingqueen023 — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:53:55 GMT

@dex wrote:
~~@dooBdoo thanks for doing all of the investigative work for us.I really appreciate your hard work.I think I will take your advice and steer clear.~~

I agree. Why give them more information. They already have it, lol

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

Financialgrl — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 13:35:17 GMT

I have seen the advertisements but we've all seen how Equifax's original attempt was found to scam anyone who signed up for the "free monitoring" and when caught, they lied and changed their story.

I'm always leary of all these "free" things and start with the premise that they are all nothing but sheisters.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

Krimpette — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 17:24:19 GMT

I didn't bite. I'm just assuming that most, if not all of us are on the "dark web" somewhere. No need to add more anxiety to my life by having someone confim it.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

esmeraldagooch — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:21:54 GMT

These commercials make me mad all over again. I would never trust them to look, they are untrustworthy.

Get two factor id on all your bank and credit card accounts, I have it on facebook also. if you get hacked there it's only becasue you don't have it.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

colliemom4 — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:57:16 GMT

Even if it is on the dark web what are they going to do about it is what I want to know. It's difficult to catch anyone there.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

Hippiified — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 22:28:15 GMT

@colliemom4 wrote:
Even if it is on the dark web what are they going to do about it is what I want to know. It's difficult to catch anyone there.

Obviously, nothing.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

sheilababe — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 02:29:06 GMT

Why in the world should we trust Experian? I don't like the fact that they are still in business. They have spent a lot of time and money making sure that they are protected while their customers were exposed and now they are trying to take advantage of the same people they failed to protect.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

Financialgrl — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:18:21 GMT

@sheilababe wrote:
Why in the world should we trust Experian? I don't like the fact that they are still in business. They have spent a lot of time and money making sure that they are protected while their customers were exposed and now they are trying to take advantage of the same people they failed to protect.

@sheilababe I think you made the same mistake I did. Though they sound so similar, the breach was from Equifax, not Experian. Doesn't matter though, they all do the same thing - hook you in for "free" services, then zap you for more money. All crooks.

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

Spurt — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 19:33:31 GMT

Just another scam to pray upon peoples concerns and fears and get your money....nothing is "free".................

Re: Experian Dark Web Scan

Spurt — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 19:34:19 GMT

@dooBdoo wrote:

No. Absolutely not. I think it's dangerously deceptive, self-serving (for Experian) advertising and causes more problems for those who use it. Remember, we are not the customers of credit reporting agencies -- we are their product, their merchandise.

There are many articles on the internet. Here are excerpts from one that I think does a good job of explaining what really happens to those who accept this "free" scan:

" ...The search box makes a stab at transparency by stating that inputting your email means you’re giving Experian permission to pitch its own products as well as “other products that may be of interest.”

It also says you’re agreeing to Experian’s terms of service.

But that hardly comes close to a full disclosure of what’s transpiring. I clicked on Experian’s terms of service and found a densely written, nearly 17,600-word document — a contract the length of a novella.

Not surprisingly, this is where you’ll find an arbitration clause preventing you from suing the company — an increasingly common aspect of consumer contracts nowadays.

That’s the least of your worries, though.

It turns out running a free dark-Web email scan opens you up to “advertisements or offers for available credit cards, loan options, financial products or services, or credit-related products or services and other offers to customers.”

It also exposes you to “the ability to track and collect certain consumer information specific to you,” including your credit score, loan and credit card payments, and interest rates.

The terms reveal that Experian “receives compensation for the marketing of credit opportunities or other products or services available through third parties,” which is exactly what it sounds like.

You’re giving permission for the company to sell you out.

And if you make it to the very bottom of the contract — no small feat, I assure you — you’ll find this little cow chip: Even if you cancel any Experian service, your acceptance of the arbitration clause “shall survive.”

For the rest of your natural life? That seems to be the presumption.

Claudia Kubowicz Malhotra, an associate professor of marketing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said two big problems with Experian’s pitch are that no one will read 17,600 words of fine print and that relatively few consumers have the slightest idea what the dark Web is... "

please see the entire article at:

http:// www . latimes . com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-experian-dark-web-20170922-story.html

(remove spaces to copy and paste the URL or search for "Credit agency Experian says it can protect you from the 'dark Web' — sort of" at LATimes dot com)

@dooBdoo

Great job in pointing out this SCAM!