A fraud alert can protect your identity when your personal information has been stolen. Or, if you've already been an unfortuante victim of identity theft, an alert can prevent further damage to your credit.
To place a fraud alert on all three of your credit reports, you only need to contact one of the credit bureaus. That bureau is then responsible for contacting the other two credit bureaus.
Place an Initial or Active Duty Fraud Alert
An initial fraud alert lasts 90 days and is a good option when your personal information has been stolen, but no fraudulent activity has occurred.
Similarly, an active duty fraud alert is for someone in the military who is being deployed overseas. The active duty fraud alert lasts a year.
EquifaxOnline
By Phone: 1-800-525-6285
By Mail: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian
Online
By Phone: 1-888-397-3742
By Mail: P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
By Phone: 1-800-680-7289
By Mail: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Place an Extended Fraud Alert
An extended fraud alert lasts seven years and is available to those who have been victims of identity theft. All three bureaus require the extended alert be requested in writing, by mail. You must include proof of your identity and an identity theft report from a law enforcement agency.
- Equifax Fraud Alert Form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
- Experian Fraud Alert Form
- TransUnion does not provide an online form. You can use the address above to mail your request to TransUnion.
