Definition: A fraud alert is a statement on your credit report that warns anyone who checks your credit report that you have been or may be a victim of identity theft. The fraud alert encourages the viewer to verify the identity of the applicant before extending credit. Your fraud alert may include a phone number at which you may be reached to confirm that you placed the application. Fraud alerts are free and generally last for 90 days.
An active duty fraud alert may be added by a consumer in the military who is on active duty or away from their usual station. This fraud alert lasts one year.
An extended fraud alert lasts seven years and is intended for a consumer who has had their identity stolen. To place an extended fraud alert on your credit report, you should provide the credit bureau with an identity theft report from a law enforcement agency.
All fraud alerts are free and can be added to your credit report by contacting the credit bureau. You only need to place a fraud alert with one credit bureau since federal law requires the credit bureaus to inform each other of consumer fraud alerts.
