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An official website of the United States government

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Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive
information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

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   When you order something online, you might get several emails or text
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   Saying it's out for delivery. Notifying you about delivery. Did you know that
   scammers send fake package shipment and delivery notifications to try to
   steal people's personal information — not just at the holidays, but all year
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Vea esta página en español
Article


WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CREDIT FREEZES AND FRAUD ALERTS


Credit freezes and fraud alerts can protect you from identity theft or prevent
further misuse of your personal information if it was stolen. Learn what they do
and how to place them.
 * Credit Freezes
 * Fraud Alerts


CREDIT FREEZES

Who can place one: Anyone can freeze their credit report, even if their identity
has not been stolen.

What it does: A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, which
means you — or others — won’t be able to open a new credit account while the
freeze is in place. You can temporarily lift the credit freeze if you need to
apply for new credit. When the freeze is in place, you will still be able to do
things like apply for a job, rent an apartment, or buy insurance without lifting
or removing it.

Duration: A credit freeze lasts until you remove it.

Cost: Free

How to place: Contact each of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and
TransUnion.


FRAUD ALERTS

Fraud alerts are available in different situations and have different benefits.


FRAUD ALERT

Who can place one: Anyone who suspects fraud can place a fraud alert on their
credit report.

What it does: A fraud alert will make it harder for someone to open a new credit
account in your name. A business must verify your identity before it issues new
credit in your name.

When you place a fraud alert on your credit report, you can get a free copy of
your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus.

Duration: A fraud alert lasts one year. After a year, you can renew it.

Cost: Free

How to place: Contact any one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian,
and TransUnion. You don’t have to contact all three. The credit bureau you
contact must tell the other two to place a fraud alert on your credit report.


EXTENDED FRAUD ALERT

Who can place one: An extended fraud alert is only available to people who have
had their identity stolen and completed an FTC identity theft report at
IdentityTheft.gov or filed a police report.

What it does: Like a fraud alert, an extended fraud alert will make it harder
for someone to open a new credit account in your name. A business must contact
you before it issues new credit in your name.

When you place an extended fraud alert on your credit report, you can get a free
copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus twice within
one year from when you place the alert, which means you could review your credit
report six times in a year.

In addition, the credit bureaus will take you off their marketing lists for
unsolicited credit and insurance offers for five years, unless you ask them not
to.

Duration: An extended fraud alert lasts seven years.

Cost: Free

How to place: Contact any one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian,
and TransUnion. You don’t have to contact all three. The credit bureau you
contact must tell the other two to place an extended fraud alert on your credit
report.


ACTIVE DUTY ALERT

Who can place one: Active duty service members can place an active duty fraud
alert.

What it does: An active duty fraud alert will make it harder for someone to open
a new credit account in your name. A business must verify your identity before
it issues new credit in your name.

In addition, the credit bureaus will take you off their marketing lists for
unsolicited credit and insurance offers for two years, unless you ask them not
to.

Duration: An active duty fraud alert lasts one year. After a year, you can renew
it for the length of your deployment.

Cost: Free

How to place: Contact any one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian,
and TransUnion. You don’t have to contact all three. The credit bureau you
contact must tell the other two to place an active duty fraud alert on your
credit report.

> Free credit monitoring for active duty service members
> 
> Active duty service members can get free electronic credit monitoring, which
> can detect problems that might be the result of identity theft. To sign up,
> contact each of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.


WHICH FRAUD ALERT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Fraud Alert

Extended Fraud Alert

Active Duty Alert

Place when you’re concerned about identity theft. It makes it harder for someone
to open a new credit account in your name. It’s free and lasts 1 year.

Place when you’ve had your identity stolen and completed an FTC identity theft
report at IdentityTheft.gov or filed a police report. It makes it harder for
someone to open a new credit account in your name and removes you from
unsolicited credit and insurance offers for 5 years. It’s free and lasts 7
years.

Place when you’re on active military duty. It makes it harder for someone to
open a new credit account in your name and removes you from unsolicited credit
and insurance offers for 2 years. It’s free and lasts 1 year.

 

DATA BREACHES - WHAT TO KNOW, WHAT TO DO

What to do if your information is exposed in a data breach

 

Order free copies

 

Topics
Identity Theft and Online Security
Identity Theft
May 2021
Related Items
What To Know About Identity Theft

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