What Is a Fraud Alert?

Placing a fraud alert on your credit report tells lenders and creditors that they must always verify your identification by contacting you before extending a credit line or loan in your name. This can help protect your identity from fraud by preventing a thief from opening any new accounts in your name.

There are three types of fraud alerts:

• Initial Fraud Alert. If you’re concerned about identity theft, but haven’t yet become a victim, this fraud alert will protect your credit from unverified access for at least 90 days.
• Extended Fraud Alert. For victims of identity theft, an extended fraud alert will protect your credit for seven years.
• Active Duty Military Alert. For those in the military who want to protect their credit while deployed, this type of fraud alert will last for one year.

Once you’ve placed a fraud alert on your credit, you can remove it at any time. In order to initiate a fraud alert, contact one of the three credit bureaus; that bureau will be required to notify the other two credit bureaus to place an alert on your file. Here’s how to contact each of the credit bureaus:

• Equifax: Online or by calling 1-800-525-6285
• Experian: Online or by calling 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion: By calling 1-800-680-7289

Read more about protecting your identity from theft on the Credit Karma Blog.

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