How to Check for Credit Fraud

Credit fraud is a form of identity theft in which someone steals your personal information to open an account in your name or use one or more of your credit cards without your knowledge. You can check for credit fraud by regularly reviewing your credit report for suspicious activity. Order your credit report from a credit monitoring company, such as Experian.

Instructions

1

After receiving your credit report, print it out. Credit monitoring companies like Experian will display your credit report on your computer screen. However, you may not be able to save the report.

2

View all of the open accounts and verify that they are valid. Accounts can include credit cards that are open or have been closed and any outstanding loans.

3

Review the "Requests viewed by others" section of the Experian credit report. Other credit reports may have an "Inquiries" section. This section displays all of the creditors that have looked at your credit report, such as when an application is being processed. If you do not recognize a creditor making an inquiry it may indicate fraudulent activity.

4

Verify that the addresses listed on the credit report for you are accurate. If you see an address you've never had, it may have been used on an application for credit.

5

Contact the creditor reporting the data on your credit report that you know is fraudulent. Identify yourself as a victim of fraud and ask to file a fraud claim.