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Putting A Fraud Alert On Your Credit Report

What exactly is a fraud alert?

It is a notice placed on your credit report that lets credit card companies and other credit grantors know that you may have been a victim of fraud.

A fraud alert requires creditors to use reasonable procedures to verify your identity before granting credit.

To place a fraud alert on your credit report, contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies (Trans Union, Equifax, Experian) and then that one will notify the other two.

An initial fraud alert is free and lasts for a year.

There is an extended seven year fraud alert that is also free for victims of identity theft.

To update or remove a fraud alert, you have to contact each credit reporting agency.

If you have been a victim of identity theft, or think you have been, a fraud alert can be a helpful step in stopping further theft of your identity and the unlawful use of your credit and credit worthiness.

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