You can place a fraud alert on your credit report for free by contacting just one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. That bureau is legally required to notify the other two, so a single request covers all three reports. The entire process takes about 10 minutes online or by phone, and no documentation is needed for the basic alert.
What a Fraud Alert Actually Does
A fraud alert tells lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening a new account in your name. When a lender pulls your credit and sees the alert, they’re supposed to contact you directly (usually by phone) to confirm you actually applied. This doesn’t block access to your credit report the way a freeze does. It simply flags your file so that a thief who tries to open a credit card or loan using your information faces an additional verification step.
Fraud alerts are a good first move if you suspect your personal information has been compromised, if you’ve received a data breach notification, or if you notice unfamiliar activity on your accounts. They add a layer of protection without preventing you from applying for credit yourself.
Three Types of Fraud Alerts
Federal law provides three distinct fraud alert options, each designed for a different situation.
Initial fraud alert: Available to anyone who suspects they may be a victim of fraud or identity theft. It lasts one year and requires no supporting documentation. You can renew it when it expires. This is the most common type and the one most people place.
Extended fraud alert: Designed for confirmed identity theft victims. It lasts seven years. To qualify, you need to have completed an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov (the FTC’s reporting site) or filed a police report. You’ll need to submit that report when placing the alert. If you want to renew it after seven years, you’ll have to resubmit your FTC identity theft report or police report.
Active duty military alert: Available to service members on active duty who want to protect their credit while deployed. It lasts one year and can be renewed for the duration of active duty.
How to Place the Alert Step by Step
Pick whichever bureau is most convenient for you. You only need to contact one.
- Equifax: Visit equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts or call 800-525-6285.
- Experian: Visit experian.com/fraud/center.html or call 888-397-3742.
- TransUnion: Visit transunion.com/fraud-alerts or call 800-680-7289.
Online is the fastest route. You’ll create an account (or log in if you already have one), verify your identity by answering a few security questions, and select the type of alert you want. The bureau will ask for a phone number where lenders can reach you to verify future applications. Choose a number you reliably answer.
If you’re placing an extended alert, you’ll need to upload or provide your FTC identity theft report number or a copy of your police report. For an initial alert, no documentation is required.
After you submit your request, the bureau you contacted shares the alert with the other two. All three reports should show the alert within one business day in most cases, though it can occasionally take a bit longer. You’ll typically receive a confirmation from each bureau as they process it.
What Happens After the Alert Is Active
Once the alert is on your file, any creditor who pulls your report should see a notice instructing them to verify your identity before extending credit. In practice, this means you might get a phone call when you apply for a credit card, auto loan, or mortgage. The call is brief and just confirms that you’re the one who applied.
Your existing accounts are not affected. A fraud alert doesn’t close credit cards, change your credit score, or prevent current lenders from reviewing your account. It only applies to new credit applications.
Keep in mind that a fraud alert is a request to lenders, not an absolute block. Some creditors may not follow through on the verification step, though they’re legally supposed to take reasonable steps to confirm your identity. If you want a harder lock on your credit, a credit freeze is the stronger option. A freeze prevents your report from being shared with new creditors entirely until you lift it. You can have both a fraud alert and a freeze in place at the same time.
Removing a Fraud Alert Early
Fraud alerts expire automatically (after one year for initial alerts, seven years for extended alerts), so you don’t need to do anything if you’re happy to let it run its course. But if you want to remove it early, contact any one of the three bureaus. You’ll go through an identity verification process, similar to the one you used to place the alert, and request removal. The bureau will notify the other two to remove it as well.
There’s no penalty for removing an alert early, and you can place a new one at any time if your situation changes.
When a Freeze Makes More Sense
A fraud alert is quick and easy, but it relies on lenders to do the right thing. A credit freeze is more protective because it blocks access to your credit report altogether. No lender can pull your report to approve a new account unless you temporarily lift the freeze first, which you can do online in minutes using a PIN or password each bureau provides.
Freezes are also free and last indefinitely until you remove them. The tradeoff is that you need to remember to lift the freeze before applying for credit, renting an apartment, or doing anything else that triggers a credit check. Unlike fraud alerts, you have to contact each bureau separately to place or lift a freeze.
Many people use a fraud alert as an immediate response when they first suspect a problem, then follow up with a freeze if they want longer-term protection. There’s no rule against using both at the same time.
Other Steps to Take Alongside a Fraud Alert
Placing a fraud alert is a strong first step, but it works best as part of a broader response. Review your credit reports from all three bureaus for accounts you don’t recognize. You can pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you find fraudulent accounts, dispute them directly with the bureau reporting them.
If you’ve confirmed that someone has misused your identity, file a report at IdentityTheft.gov. The site walks you through a recovery plan and generates the documentation you’d need for an extended fraud alert, disputes with creditors, and reports to law enforcement. Change passwords on any financial accounts that may have been compromised, and monitor your bank and credit card statements closely for the next several months.