How Do I Add a Fraud Alert to My Credit Report?

If you believe that financial information which could be used to steal your identity has been made public, you should add a fraud alert to your credit report. Creditors would then have to call you before new accounts could be opened using your information. Adding a fraud alert doesn't cost anything. Unfortunately, it isn't a guarantee that you will be protected. Creditors sometimes overlook a fraud alert by mistake and process a fraudulent credit request.

Online

Go to Equifax.com and Experian.com to add a fraud alert with those credit-reporting agencies. Fill out the requested information online and hit the continue button. The fraud alert should be in place in 24 hours, and it will remain in place for 90 days. A fraud alert cannot be added online with TransUnion.

Phone or Mail

You can also contact the fraud division of the three major credit-reporting agencies by phone or mail. The process takes only a few minutes by phone. If you contact them by mail, just ask for a fraud alert to be added to your credit report.

Contact Equifax at P.O. Box 740241, Consumer Fraud Division, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241. Phone: (800) 525-6285, fax: (770) 375-2821.

Contact Experian's National Consumer Assistance at P.O. Box 2104 Allen, Texas 75013. Phone: (888) 397-3742.

Contact TransUnion's Fraud Victim Assistance Department at P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634. Phone: (880) 680-7289, fax (714) 447-6034.

Extended Alert

If you want an extended fraud alert that will last beyond 90 days, you will need to mail or fax additional information to the credit-reporting agencies. This includes a police report and a report from the post office that indicates you are a victim of mail theft.

For Equifax, fill out the extended fraud alert form and mail it with a photocopy of one of these forms of ID: Social Security card, pay stub with Social Security number or W-2 form. You must also send a photocopy of one of these forms of address verification: driver's license, rental lease agreement or house deed, or pay stub with your address. Mail this information and the fraud alert form to: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348-5069. You can fax it to (888) 826-0597.

For Experian, mail a photocopy of one of the following forms of ID: driver's license, state ID card or military ID card. Also send a copy of a utility bill or bank statement to Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, Texas 75013. See Experian.com for the letter that is also required.

For TransUnion, mail the same ID information along with a copy of a utility bill or bank statement to TransUnion, P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92634.