Placing a Fraud Alert on your credit file is an important step if:

a) You know you are currently a victim of identity theft, or
b) You suspect you are or may soon be a victim of identity theft, or
c) You are serving on active military duty.

The purpose of placing a Fraud Alert on your credit file is to warn new and existing creditors that you are, or suspect you will soon be, a victim of identity theft. By warning existing and potential creditors, you reduce the risk of an identity thief opening new lines of credit or modifying existing lines of credit. Additionally, a Fraud Alert may be used by anyone serving on active military duty to proactively protect them from identity thieves while they are serving on active duty.

There are three types of Fraud Alerts:  90-day Fraud Alerts; Extended Fraud Alerts; and, Active Military Duty Fraud Alerts.  Each of the three types of alerts are designed for different purposes and place different requirements upon creditors already doing business with you or who seek to do business with you. 

The following information will assist you in determining which alert is appropriate for your specific circumstance.

90 Day Fraud Alert – 90 Day Fraud Alerts are also called Initial Fraud Alerts.  They are designed to alert existing and potential creditors who access your credit file that you have a good faith suspicion you are currently a victim of identity theft or that you may become an identity theft victim soon.  This type of alert is appropriate if an event has recently happened that either increases your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft or causes you to suspect you are in fact a victim of identity theft.  As the name suggests, this type of alert will only remain on your file for a period of 90 days.

Once the 90 Day Fraud Alert is placed on your credit file, creditors accessing your credit report are required to take additional steps to authenticate any requests to open or modify a credit line.  Additionally, by placing the alert you will be entitled to a free credit report from the credit reporting agency.

Anyone can place a 90 Day Fraud Alert on their credit file for free.  And, if you place a 90 Day Fraud Alert on your credit file at any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, that agency will notify the remaining two agencies to also place a 90 Day Fraud Alert on your credit file as well.  Equifax has the most user-friendly online procedure for placing a 90 Day Fraud Alert on your credit file.

Extended Fraud Alert – Extended Fraud Alerts are also called 7 Year Alerts.  Extended Fraud Alerts are designed to alert existing and potential creditors who access your credit file that you are in fact a victim of identity theft.  This type of alert is appropriate if you know for certain that your identity has been stolen.  You will have to provide a local, state or federal law enforcement report documenting that you are a victim of identity theft or mail theft.  Also, you will need to supply several types of documentation to identify yourself when you request the Extended Fraud Alert.  An Extended Fraud Alert will remain on your file for a period of 7 years.

Once the Extended Fraud Alert is placed on your credit file, creditors accessing your credit report are required to personally contact you before authorizing any requests to open or modify a credit line.  Additionally, by placing the alert you will be entitled to two free credit reports from the each of the three major credit reporting agencies and your name will be deleted from prescreened credit and insurance offers for 5 years.

Anyone can place an Extended Fraud Alert on their credit file for free.  However, unlike 90 Day Fraud Alerts, Extended Fraud Alerts must be requested by mail or fax.  If you place an Extended Fraud Alert on your credit file with any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, that agency will notify the remaining two agencies to also place an Extended Fraud Alert on your credit file as well.

Active Military Duty Alert - Active Military Duty Alerts are designed to alert existing and potential creditors who access your credit file that you are currently on active military duty.  This type of alert is appropriate if you are about to begin active military duty and would like to add an extra layer of protection to your credit file.  An Active Military Duty Alert will remain on your file for a period of one year. 

Once the Active Military Duty Fraud Alert is placed on your credit file, creditors accessing your credit report are required to take additional steps to authenticate any requests to open or modify a credit line.  Additionally, by placing the alert you will be entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies and your name will be deleted from prescreened credit and insurance offers for 2 years.

Military personnel can place an Active Military Duty Alert on their credit file for free.  If you place an Active Military Duty Alert on your credit file with any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, that agency will notify the remaining two agencies to also place an Active Military Duty Alert on your credit file as well.  Equifax has the most user-friendly online procedure for placing an Active Military Duty Alert on your credit file.

For further information about Fraud Alerts you can contact the three nationwide credit reporting agencies:

Equifax Information Services LLC
800-525-6285

Experian
888-397-3742

TransUnion
800-888-4213