Site tip still stands

Three readers phoned or e-mailed us with concerns after we recommended using Optoutprescreen.com as the best place to stop banks from mailing you pre-approved credit card offers.

Sandpoint resident Paul Vogel’s concern was representative of those readers: Why recommend a site that asks for a Social Security number when that’s personal information identity thieves target?

We repeat our recommendation and could have added two other facts: The site asks for but doesn’t require you provide your Social Security number; and, the Federal Trade Commission recommends only one place online for people to go for this purpose, and that’s Optoutprescreen.com.

Here’s the statement at Optoutprescreen: “Your Social Security Number is not required to process an Opt-Out request. However, we strongly urge you to provide this information because it helps to ensure that we can successfully process your request. This site’s security protocols and measures are designed to protect the personally identifiable information you provide from unauthorized access or alteration. As an added security measure, we only display the last four digits of your Social Security number on the confirmation screen.”