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 is stolen. Find out what they do and how to put them on.
credit freeze
Fraud Notifications
credit freeze
Who can put one: Anyone can put a freeze on their credit report, even if their identity hasn't been stolen.
The role: A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, meaning you—or others—will not be able to open a new credit account during the freeze period. You can temporarily lift the credit freeze if you need to apply for new credit. When the freeze is in place, you'll still be able to do things like apply for a job, rent an apartment, or buy insurance without lifting or removing it.
Duration: The credit freeze continues until you remove it.
Free of charge
How to set up: Contact each of the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Fraud Notifications
Fraud alerts are available in different situations and have different benefits.
Fraud notification
Who Can Place: Anyone who suspects fraud can place a fraud alert on their credit report.
Role: A fraud alert will make it harder for someone to open a new credit account in your name. The company must verify your identity before issuing 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 for one year. After one year you can renew it.
Free of charge
How to deposit: Contact any of the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You don't have to call all three. The credit bureau you contact should tell the other two to put a fraud alert on your credit report.
Fraud alert extension
Who can place one: The Extended Fraud Alert is only available to people who have had their identity stolen and have filed an identity theft report with the FTC 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. The business must contact you before issuing 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 a year of the alert being placed, which means you can review your credit report six times in one year.
Additionally, credit bureaus will take you off their marketing lists for unsolicited five-year loan and insurance offers unless you ask them to.
Duration: The Extended Fraud Alert lasts for seven years.
Free of charge
How to deposit: Contact any of the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You don't have to call all three. The credit bureau you contact should tell the other two to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.
Active service alert
Who can set one: Active duty members can set up an active duty fraud alert.
Role: An active fraud alert will make it harder for someone to open a new credit account in your name. The company must verify your identity before issuing new credit in your name.
Additionally, credit bureaus will take you off their marketing lists for unsolicited two-year loan and insurance offers unless you ask them to.
Duration: An active fraud alert lasts for one year. After one year, you can renew it for the duration of the posting period.
Free of charge
How to deposit: Contact any of the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You don't have to call all three. The credit bureau you contact must tell the other two to place an active fraud alert on your credit report.
Free credit monitoring for active members
Active members of the service can receive free electronic credit monitoring, which can detect problems that may be the result of identity theft. To sign up, contact each of the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.