How To... Place a Fraud Alert on your Credit
If you suspect that sensative personal information about you has been compromised, that you may be at risk of identity theft or if you actually know that your information has been used fraudulently, you should place a fraud alert on your credti accounts
What does an alert do?
With a fraud alert active, you have to be available at either your work phone or home phone to approve opening the credit account. It will just require a short delay in your instant gratification and a call-back to the credit company authorizing the new account.
A fraud alert won't cause any problems with your current credit card, bank or credit accounts. It's focused on new credit accounts, not the ones you already have opened.
NOTE: If you're just about to apply for a home loan or refinance, let your broker know that you have a fraud alert in place because you're trying to protect yourself against fraud.
The Initial or 90-day Alert
A 90-day temporary alert is added to your account when you alert the credit reporting agency (CRA) that you have a good faith suspicion that you have been, or are about to become a victim of fraud or related crime, including identify theft.
You add this alert by calling any one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies below or following this link.
Organization |
Phone |
Equifax |
800 525-6285 |
Experian |
888 397-3742 |
TransUnion |
800 680-7289 |
SSN-Fraud |
800 269-0271 |
Consumers who add this alert are entitled to request a free copy of their disclosure and will be opted-out of Prescreen for six months. The consumer will be able to add a phone number to this alert so that the data user can verify the identity of the consumer.
You only need to call one of the three or fill out just the single form above. Whoever you report it to will share the information with the other credit reporting agencies (CRAs) through the Fraud Exchange System.
The Extended (7-Year) Alert
A seven-year alert added to your account when a you submits an Identity Theft Report (below) and proof of identity. Consumers who add this alert are entitled to request two free copies of their disclosure and will be opted out of Prescreen for five years. This alert must include a telephone number or other reasonable contact method so that the data user can verify the identity of the consumer. This form must be manually filled out and mailed in to a CRA.
You only need to send this form to one reporting agency. The address for Experian is included on the form. Experian will share the information with the other credit reporting agencies (CRAs) through the Fraud Exchange System.
Removing an Alert
If you decide you want to remove a fraud alert you'll need to request it in writing using this form (Microsoft Word Format - Adobe Acrobat Format). You'll have to include the information requested and send it to the fraud department of the credit bureaus where the alert has been placed. It is strongly suggested that you use certified mail or other method that provides tracking and requires signature for delivery. You want to be able to track a letter that has all that critical data. |
