How to Put an Alert on a Credit Report

Identity theft is an increasingly common crime, and a fraud alert is one of the first steps to stop a thief from using your information. At least 9 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year, according to the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft website. Once you put a fraud alert on your report, lenders should contact you by phone before opening any account in your name, although they are not required to by law. Once you believe you're a victim of identity theft, it is fairly simple to request a fraud alert.

Instructions

1

Request an initial fraud alert on your credit report. This will last for 90 days.

2

Contact the fraud department at one of the three major credit bureaus as soon as you notice the possibility of identity theft. You can reach Equifax at (888) 766-0008, Experian at (866) 397-3742 and TransUnion at (800) 680-7289. You can also request an initial fraud alert online from Equifax at http://alerts.equifax.com and Experian at http://Experian.com/fraud. Once you call one credit bureau, it will share your information and pass on the alert to the other two bureaus.

3

Provide the necessary personal information to request the alert. This includes your first and last name, Social Security number, address and email address.

4

Include a telephone number so lenders can call you when someone attempts to open a credit card in your name. A cell phone number is easiest so that lenders can quickly reach you. The alert is in place even when you try to open a new account.

5

Watch for a confirmation in your mail a week or two after you file the alert. If you don't receive a confirmation, contact the credit bureau again.

6

Request an extended fraud alert if you have proof of identity theft and want further protection. An extended fraud alert will stay in place for seven years. Setting up an extended alert requires proof of identify theft through a report with a law enforcement agency.