When it's time to run your credit report to obtain financing, you may learn the hard way that the credit bureaus have a "service" for sale. Once the credit bureaus see a mortgage credit report run, they will sell your name, address and phone number to anyone pays them a fee for this information.

Many people have complained of being inundated with confusing paperwork from lenders other than the one with which they applied at the very emotional time of buying a home. Additionally, others fear a very real threat of identity theft with their information floating around.

Your personal information is being sold without your consent to other lenders. Many of these lenders are generally fly-by-night companies that operate several states away and are solely interested in offering you a bait and switch mortgage offer. They will call you repeatedly and mail you solicitation after solicitation in hopes of deceiving you. These lenders often offer terms that are too good to be true and misleading.

How do you stop this from happening in the future?

Opt-Out of Prescreened Credit Offers – This will stop creditors from viewing your personal credit information without your written consent. In addition, it will cut down on the junk mail in general (unwanted credit card solicitations). This alone lowers your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft. You can opt-out by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com or by calling 888-567-8688. You will need to provide your social security number to identify who you are.