How to Put a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report

A fraud alert is a notation on your credit file that tells potential lenders and other creditors that you suspect you’re a victim of fraud. If you attempt to buy a car, open a credit card account, or just increase the amount on an existing credit line, the fraud alert is there to ensure the lender double checks your identity before approval.

Should an identity thief attempt to open an account under your name, he may be foiled by the extra security measures. Today, setting up a fraud alert on your credit report with each of the three major credit bureaus is quick and convenient.

There are three different types of fraud alerts to choose from: initial, extended, and active duty.

Initial Fraud Alert

An initial fraud alert is temporary and lasts for one year. It’s the first fraud alert applied to an account and used in most cases. It can be removed at any time and will fall off automatically after the year is up.

However, it’s important not to abuse the system by placing fraud alerts without good reason. Experian once sued a credit monitoring service for activating false fraud alerts on behalf of the consumer.

Fraud alerts are a fail-safe meant to be used under specific circumstances, such as when your identity has been stolen, or your usernames and passwords have been compromised.

All national credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, have an online system for setting up initial fraud alerts, so they can be placed within minutes.

Request an Initial Fraud Alert

• TransUnion
• Equifax
• Experian

All three credit reporting agencies work together to place fraud alerts on your credit report. By law, they have to. Setting up a fraud alert with Experian, for example, automatically notifies the other two companies, TransUnion and Equifax.

Extended Fraud Alert

An extended fraud alert is similar to an initial alert but is considered permanent because it lasts for seven years. Requesting an extended fraud alert is more involved than an initial alert and may involve sending an identity theft report by mail, however. Currently, no major credit reporting company has an online process the can completed fully online to place extended alerts.

You must print and complete a short form containing your identity along with some other related information, and then mail it to the respective credit reporting company. Be prepared to include at least two documents that verify your identity, such as a driver’s license and utility bill; the exact type of documents needed are listed on each form.

Extended Fraud Alert Forms:

• • TransUnion
  • Equifax
  • Experian

Active Duty Alert

An active duty alert is also similar to an initial fraud alert, and it lasts for 12 months as well. This alert is for military members who are placed on active duty and therefore won’t have the time to monitor their credit reports for potential fraud. Like with extended fraud alerts, active duty alerts usually can’t be set up or removed online. They too will expire automatically.

You may also be required to print, complete, and mail a form along with proof of identity to complete the set-up of an extended fraud alert. However, we recommend you begin the process of putting an extended fraud alert on your credit profile with each of the credit bureaus by setting up a free account with each of them over the Internet through the pages we linked to in the initial fraud alert section above.

Alternatively, you can call a credit reporting company to set up a fraud alert over the phone. Just be prepared to offer proof of identity, such as your current home address and social security number in additional to an ID card and billing statement.

Contact the Credit Bureaus by Phone

• Experian: 1-888-397-3742
• Equifax: 1-888-836-6351
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

Final Thoughts on Credit Fraud Alerts

You have three different ways to put a fraud alert on your credit report, depending on the type you need. Choose what’s most convenient for you, and rest assured that the reporting companies will share the information between one another.

Unfortunately, while fraud alerts are helpful, they can’t prevent fraud entirely. It’s up to you, the consumer, to monitor your credit report and score to bring attention to any errors. A paid or free credit monitoring service can greatly assist with that.

Before leaving, be sure to bookmark our page on removing fraud alerts from your credit report in case you need to remove one quickly.