How to avoid being victimized by a secured credit card marketing scam

From: bbbsilicon.org

Beware of offers of easy credit. No one can guarantee to get you credit. Before deciding whether to give you a credit card, legitimate credit card processing service providers examine your credit history through a credit report. Think twice before making a call to a "900" telephone number for a credit card. Be wary of credit cards offered by "credit repair" companies or "credit clinics." These businesses also may offer to clean-up your credit history for a fee. However, you can correct genuine mistakes or outdated information yourself by contacting credit bureaus directly. But remember; only time and good credit will repair your credit report if you have a poor credit history.

Credit Reporting
If you are considering a secured card as a means to build or re-establish a credit record, make sure the issuer reports to a credit bureau. Your credit history is maintained by companies called credit bureaus that collect information reported to them by banks, mortgage companies, department stores, and other creditors. If your card issuer does not report to a credit bureau, the card will not help you build a credit history.