Fraud Alert

What is a Fraud Alert

There are two types of fraud alerts: an initial alert, and an extended alert. According to the FTC, the definition of both alerts are:

  • An initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. You may ask that an initial fraud alert be placed on your credit report if you suspect you have been, or are about to be, a victim of identity theft. An initial alert is appropriate if your wallet has been stolen or if you've been taken in by a "phishing" scam. With an initial fraud alert, potential creditors must use what the law refers to as “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. However, the steps potential creditors take to verify your identity may not always alert them that the applicant is not you. When you place an initial fraud alert on your credit report, you're entitled to order one free credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.
  • An extended fraud alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you've been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer reporting company with an Identity Theft Report. An automated Identity Theft Report, such as the printed ID Theft Complaint available from this Web site, should be sufficient to obtain an extended fraud alert. With an extended fraud alert, potential creditors must actually contact you, or meet with you in person, before they issue you credit. When you place an extended alert on your credit report, you're entitled to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years unless you ask them to put your name back on the list before then.

To place or remove a fraud alert you will be required to provide appropriate proof of your identity: that may include your Social Security number, name, address and other personal information requested by the credit reporting company.

Depending on the type of fraud alert you place, creditors must contact you or take reasonable steps to verify your identity. Remember to keep your contact information in your fraud alert current, as a fraud alert may cause some delay with creditors when trying to verify your identity.

How to place a Fraud Alert

How to place a Fraud Alert


Placing a fraud alert is a simple process. You have to contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus. Once you place a fraud alert with one of the bureaus, they claim they will communicate the alert with the other two bureaus. If you believe you are about to, or have already become a victim of identity theft, you probably will want to contact all three bureaus to facilitate the speed.

Credit Bureaus Contact Information

  • TransUnion
    Fraud Victim Assistance Department
    Phone: 800-680-7289
    Fax: 714-447-6034
    P.O. Box 6790
    Fullerton, CA 92634-6790
     
  • Equifax
    Consumer Fraud Division
    Phone: 800-525-6285
    or: 404-885-8000
    Fax: 770-375-2821
    P.O. Box 740241
    Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
     
  • Experian
    Experian's National Consumer Assistance
    Phone: 888-397-3742
    P.O. Box 2104
    Allen, TX 75013

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