Some things just go together. You know, peanut butter and jelly; summertime and Beach Boys music; apple juice and Graham crackers; credit-reporting sites and Facebook…
Wait, WHAT?
I’ve been using CreditKarma for a while now, since it charges no fees, appears to be ad-based (which is okay by me since they’re providing a service), and generally above-board.
But browsing the site today, I came across a reminder of why you have to really watch what you click on the ‘Net.
I have a Facebook account (mostly to keep people from bothering me to do so, but also to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances whom I don’t see very often.) I’m generally leery of linking other applications and sites to my Facebook account, though (this blog being a notable exception) — and as of this evening, I can now point to at least one concrete example of why this is not (just) paranoia.
(Image heavily redacted, but you get the point…)
Why oh WHY would anyone want to post his or her credit score on Facebook? I know I’m over 30 and therefore at least two generations removed from being uber-cool (or so Madison Avenue would have the world believe) — but seriously, folks: no good can possibly come of this, no matter what your credit score is. That little check box might as well read: “Check this box if you’re STOOPID-spelled-with-two-Os.”
If your credit score is bad, you absolutely don’t want to put it on Facebook. ‘Nuff said, right?
If it’s good, why would you publicize that on Facebook, and invite identity theft? (I mean, they’re already browsing your Facebook account — and if you posted your credit score there, they probably already have your DOB, SSN, ZIP — and you’re SOL.)
That leaves “mediocre” (whatever that is.) Chances are that there’s overlap between “good” and “bad” — in that a score high enough to be able to qualify for some credit cards and invite identity theft could still well be low enough that you wouldn’t want friends, family, and employers (potential or actual) to see it.
Such things are private for a reason, folks. Caveat emptor.
