Welcome to FinancialPrivacyNow.org

Thank you for your interest in FinancialPrivacyNow.org. The lack of financial privacy affects each and every American and puts us all at risk of becoming victims of identity theft and credit fraud. Help yourself and every American by getting involved in the fight to secure stronger financial privacy protections for all.

We have developed a selection of Internet-ready public service announcements that can be used to link from any web site to FinancialPrivacyNow.org. Just click on the links below or scroll down the page to get started.

Materials . Contact Us . More Information

Thanks again for your help!

Public Service Announcement Materials

To get started, find the public service announcement that works best for your site.

Ad Banner:

Size: 468 x 60 pixels
Link to: http://www.FinancialPrivacyNow.org
Alt text: "www.FinancialPrivacyNow.org - Click here to protect your credit and your identity."

If you prefer an ad banner in a different size, please let us know, and we will be happy to provide one.

Text Links:

7 words / 45 characters
Click here to protect your financial privacy.

12 words/ 65
Your financial privacy is at risk. Click here now to protect it.

22 words / 131 characters
Is someone using your identity? They could be.
Protect your financial privacy. Click here to send a free letter to Congress now.

50 words / 276 characters
It only takes a thief a few hours to steal your identity, destroy your credit, and tarnish your name. But it will take you two years to repair the damage.

ACT NOW to strengthen financial privacy protections. Click here to send a free letter to your members of Congress now.

Back to top

Sample Email Message:

Did you know that your personal financial information is bought and sold by banks and credit card companies everyday? Without your consent or knowledge?

This makes it easy for thieves and scammers to steal your identity and use it to open bank accounts and credit cards in your name. Last year, nearly 10 million Americans became victims of identity theft. And there's no reason why it couldn't happen to you, too.

Click here now to protect yourself by asking Congress to pass stronger financial privacy regulations.

Think this can't happen to you? Meet Margaret Murray, a 48-year-old homemaker from South Carolina whose identity was stolen. The thief used her identity to open a checking account in Margaret's name at her bank. She tried again and again to get the bank to close the account, but was arrested at her home in front of her child due to bounced checks she had nothing to do with. It took her 5 court appearances in 2 counties to clear her name.

Unfortunately, current law makes it easy for identity thieves to get credit in your name. For example, all creditors need right now to give credit to someone claiming to be you are your name and social security number.

Right now, Congress is considering changes to the law that protect your financial privacy. But we believe that these proposed changes don't do enough to keep you safe and could even hurt you more.

Act now - click here to tell Congress to strengthen the Fair Credit Reporting Act to give you real protections.

Once you've sent your free email to Congress, please forward this email to your friends and family and ask them to join you in speaking up. Their financial privacy and credit is at risk, too. Word of mouth is crucial to getting these important protections passed.

Thank you for your help.

Back to top

You'd probably be surprised to learn that you have almost zero financial privacy. Banks, credit bureaus and insurance agencies sell and trade your personal financial information all the time without your consent.

This is one of the reasons that identity theft has become such a common crime. In just a few hours, a thief can steal your identity and destroy a credit record it's taken years to build. This can ruin your ability to get a loan, affect your insurance rates, and even hurt your chances of getting a job.

States like California have recently passed laws to protect consumers' privacy, but the finance industry is trying to get Congress to do away with these important protections.

Tell Congress to protect your credit and your financial privacy. Click here to take action now.

Back to top

Contact Us

For more information, please contact:

Gail Hillebrand
Consumers Union West Coast Office
1535 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.431.6747

More Information

Click here to learn more about his issue and view a list of Frequently Asked Questions.