Credit Reports: What Is a Fraud Alert? A fraud alert is a notation put on a consumer's credit file indicating that there has been suspicious or fraudulent activity or the consumer has been a victim of identity theft. If someone has obtained or tried to obtain credit in your name, you should immediately notify the three major credit reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion -- and have a fraud alert put on your credit report. There are several different fraud alerts available to consumers. If you are a victim of identity theft, you can put a 60 or 90-day fraud alert on your credit report by contacting any one of the three credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus). To extend the fraud alert beyond 90 days, you must contact each of the three credit reporting agencies. If you file a police report indicating that you have been the victim of identity theft, you can put a fraud alert on your credit report lasting seven years. Many people in the military are victims of identity theft. While they are away, friends, family members and strangers take advantage of them by using their social security number to obtain credit. There is a military "active duty alert" that consumers can place on their credit reports to try and prevent this. To activate an active duty alert, those in the military should contact each of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax 800-525-6285 Experian 888-397-3742 TransUnion 800-680-7289 Hopefully, a fraud alert will prevent thieves from obtaining credit in your name, but there is no guarantee that it won't since some creditors are so eager to issue credit, they hastily approve credit applications without properly investigating. See also: Credit Freeze |
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Credit > Credit Reports: What Is a Fraud Alert? |
Credit > Credit Reports: What Is a Fraud Alert? |
Debt Kit -- Settle unsecured debts for less than half of amount owed Credit Kit -- Improve your credit rating and reduce monthly payments by $200+ |
Credit Reports: What Is a Fraud Alert? A fraud alert is a notation put on a consumer's credit file indicating that there has been suspicious or fraudulent activity or the consumer has been a victim of identity theft. If someone has obtained or tried to obtain credit in your name, you should immediately notify the three major credit reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion -- and have a fraud alert put on your credit report. There are several different fraud alerts available to consumers. If you are a victim of identity theft, you can put a 60 or 90-day fraud alert on your credit report by contacting any one of the three credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus). To extend the fraud alert beyond 90 days, you must contact each of the three credit reporting agencies. If you file a police report indicating that you have been the victim of identity theft, you can put a fraud alert on your credit report lasting seven years. Many people in the military are victims of identity theft. While they are away, friends, family members and strangers take advantage of them by using their social security number to obtain credit. There is a military "active duty alert" that consumers can place on their credit reports to try and prevent this. To activate an active duty alert, those in the military should contact each of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax 800-525-6285 Experian 888-397-3742 TransUnion 800-680-7289 Hopefully, a fraud alert will prevent thieves from obtaining credit in your name, but there is no guarantee that it won't since some creditors are so eager to issue credit, they hastily approve credit applications without properly investigating. See also: Credit Freeze |
