- 1). Call one of the credit bureaus and tell them you would like to place a credit alert on your file. You can call Experian at 888-397-3743, Equifax at 800-525-6285 and Trans Union at 800-680-7289. It does not matter which credit bureau you call.
- 2). Provide the requested identity information to the credit bureau. When you call, the credit bureau will ask you for information to verify your identity including your name, Social Security number, birth date and current and previous addresses. If the credit bureau is unable to verify your identity, it may ask you to mail or fax them documents to verify your identity, such as a copy of your driver's license or a utility bill.
- 3). Request a copy of your credit report. As a victim of fraud, you are entitled under the FCRA to a free copy of your credit report. It is a good idea to get copies of your credit report from each of the credit reporting agencies to make sure you know about all fraudulent transactions that appear on your credit reports.
- 4). Determine if you want to place an initial alert or an extended alert on your credit reports. An initial fraud alert stays on your file for 90 days and an extended fraud alert stays on your credit file for seven years. If you want to place an extended alert on your file, the credit bureau will request an identity theft report. This will include copies of any police reports you have filed with law enforcement agencies about the fraud.
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