How Long Do Fraud Alerts Last on Your Credit?

A fraud alert is a protective notice placed on your credit reports, signaling to potential creditors that your personal information may have been compromised. Its primary function is to alert businesses to verify your identity before extending credit in your name, helping to prevent identity theft and unauthorized new accounts.

Understanding Fraud Alert Types and Durations

There are distinct types of fraud alerts, each designed for specific circumstances and carrying different durations. An initial fraud alert, lasting one year, is suitable if you suspect you may become a victim of fraud or identity theft. When this alert is active, creditors are required to take reasonable steps, such as contacting you by phone, to confirm your identity before opening new accounts or modifying existing ones. Placing an initial fraud alert also entitles you to one free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus.

For individuals who have already been victims of identity theft, an extended fraud alert offers more prolonged protection, remaining on your credit report for seven years. To qualify, you must provide an official Identity Theft Report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or a police report. With an extended alert, creditors must contact you directly, either by phone or in person, to verify your identity before approving new credit or making changes to accounts. This alert also removes your name from pre-screened credit and insurance offer mailing lists for five years and grants you two free credit reports from each bureau within a 12-month period.

Active duty fraud alerts are specifically available to military personnel, lasting for one year. This alert is beneficial for service members who wish to minimize their risk of fraud while deployed. Businesses are instructed to verify your identity before issuing new credit in your name. An active duty alert also ensures your name is removed from pre-screened credit and insurance offers for two years, providing an extra layer of protection during service.

Placing a Fraud Alert

Initiating a fraud alert is a straightforward process that begins by contacting just one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Once you place an alert with one bureau, that agency is then obligated to notify the other two, ensuring the alert is applied across all your credit reports. This means you do not need to contact each bureau individually to establish the alert.

You can place a fraud alert through various methods, including online portals, by phone, or via mail. To verify your identity, credit bureaus will request specific personal information. This includes your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and current and past addresses.

You will need to provide copies of supporting documents. These include a government-issued identification card, such as a driver’s license, and proof of address like a utility bill or bank statement. For an extended fraud alert, you must also furnish a copy of your official police report or FTC Identity Theft Report. Initial and active duty alerts placed online are effective in real-time, while extended alerts may require a few days for processing.

Managing and Extending Fraud Alerts

If you no longer require a fraud alert, you can request its removal before its natural expiration. Unlike placing an alert, removing it requires you to contact each of the three major credit bureaus individually, as they do not automatically notify each other for removal requests.

When requesting removal, you will need to provide identification, such as a government-issued ID and proof of address. For an extended fraud alert, you may also need to provide documentation that your identity theft case has been resolved. If no action is taken, initial and active duty fraud alerts will expire after one year, and extended alerts after seven years.

You can extend or renew your fraud alerts. Initial fraud alerts can be renewed for additional one-year periods by contacting the credit bureaus. Extended fraud alerts can be renewed by resubmitting an updated FTC Identity Theft Report or police report. Active duty alerts may also be renewed for the duration of a service member’s deployment. Keep your contact information, particularly your phone number, updated with the credit bureaus, as this is used by creditors to verify your identity when an alert is active.