Here’s how to stop unsolicited mortgage offers

Is your inbox and mailbox filling up with offers from mortgage companies? These unsolicited offers are not just annoying, they can be downright deceitful, sometimes using your existing mortgage lender’s name or loan amount to appear as though they are connected to your current financial provider.

The Federal Trade Commission allows creditors to buy personal information from credit bureaus, which produce the credit reports that are required when you apply for loans. That’s why the offers you receive from these companies are often labeled as “prescreened” or “preapproved,” because the company has determined you meet certain criteria based on your credit report.

Unfortunately, these creditors are not breaking the law, but there a few ways to opt out of receiving these solicitations.

Visit OptOutPrescreen.com or call 888.567.8688. This is the official consumer credit reporting industry website. If you choose to opt out, you will no longer be included in the lists sold by the four consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion. You may choose to opt out for five years through the website. If you would like to opt out from receiving unsolicited offers permanently, you must confirm the request in writing.

Opt out of receiving telemarketing calls by registering your home or mobile phone at donotcall.gov. It is free to use and your registration never expires, however it may take up to a month for calls to stop after registering your number on the do not call list.

Scammers and solicitations will never be fully eliminated but taking these steps can reduce the volume of unwanted offers.