How to Alert Credit Bureaus of Identity Theft

To alert the credit bureaus of identity theft, first file an Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov, then place a fraud alert or a security freeze on your files at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A fraud alert takes one call: the bureau you contact is legally required to notify the other two. A security freeze is stronger but has to be placed separately at each bureau. Both are free.

Start With an Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov

Before you contact any bureau, create an Identity Theft Report through the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. This report is what proves to businesses and bureaus that someone stole your identity, and it unlocks stronger protections later: extended fraud alerts, and the right to have fraudulent accounts blocked from your credit file.¹

The online form asks what happened, when you noticed it, which accounts were affected, and what unauthorized activity you saw. Based on your answers, the site generates a personalized recovery plan.²

Have this information ready:

Your full legal name and any previous names
Social Security number
Date of birth
Current and recent addresses from the past two years
Fraud details: account numbers, dates of unauthorized transactions, and names of companies involved

The bureaus will ask for the same identifying details when you place an alert or freeze, so gathering everything up front saves time on every step that follows.³

A police report is optional, but pairing one with your FTC affidavit creates a complete Identity Theft Report, which is what qualifies you for the strongest remedies below.¹

Place a Fraud Alert With One Phone Call

A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving new credit in your name. Contact any one of the three bureaus, and that bureau must notify the other two.⁴

You can place the alert online, by phone, or by mail. The phone numbers:

Equifax: (800) 685-1111
Experian: (888) 397-3742
TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

To go online, visit the fraud alert or credit protection page of any bureau’s site and follow the prompts.⁵

If you mail the request, include the bureau’s alert request form, a copy of your Identity Theft Report, a photocopy of a government-issued ID, and a document showing your current address such as a utility bill, bank statement, or pay stub. Send copies only, never originals.

Initial Fraud Alert

An initial alert lasts one year and is available to anyone who suspects they are or may become a victim of identity theft. You do not have to prove the theft occurred; a good-faith suspicion is enough. Lenders who pull your report must take reasonable steps to confirm the applicant is actually you before opening a new account.⁴

Extended Fraud Alert

With a complete Identity Theft Report (the FTC affidavit plus a police report), you can request an extended alert that stays on your file for seven years. An extended alert also removes your name from prescreened credit and insurance marketing lists for five years.⁴

Active Duty Alert

Servicemembers on active duty can place a one-year alert that can be renewed for the length of the deployment. It requires businesses to verify the servicemember’s identity before opening new credit and removes them from prescreened credit and insurance offer lists for two years.⁶

Place a Security Freeze at Each of the Three Bureaus

A security freeze goes further than an alert. It blocks the bureaus from releasing your credit report to new creditors, which stops anyone, including you, from opening new credit accounts until you lift it. The one-call rule does not apply here. You have to contact each bureau separately.⁷

All three freezes are free. Online and phone requests must be in place within one business day. Mailed requests must be processed within three business days.⁴

Each bureau will have you create a secure account or issue a PIN. Keep those credentials somewhere safe. You will need them any time you want to lift the freeze to apply for credit, a rental, or anything else that runs a credit check.

A freeze does not touch your existing accounts. Current creditors, certain government agencies, and any credit monitoring service you have hired can still access your file.⁷

Lifting a Freeze

When a lender or landlord needs to check your credit, you can lift the freeze temporarily for a set period or for a specific creditor. Online and phone requests must be honored within one hour. Mailed requests take up to three business days. Lifting is also free.⁴

Fraud Alert or Security Freeze: Which to Use

You can use both at the same time. A fraud alert warns lenders to verify your identity, but it does not stop them from viewing your report. A freeze blocks report access entirely. Alerts are easier to set up because one call covers all three bureaus. Freezes offer stronger protection but require you to manage three separate accounts and lift them whenever you need a credit check.

Pull Your Credit Reports and Clean Them Up

Once your alerts or freezes are in place, pull your reports from all three bureaus to find accounts and inquiries you don’t recognize. You can request a free report from each bureau every week through AnnualCreditReport.com.⁸

Read each report carefully. Look for accounts you didn’t open, addresses you’ve never lived at, employers you never worked for, and hard inquiries from companies you never contacted. Write down every suspicious item; you’ll need that list to dispute the information and to request blocks.

Dispute the Errors

For each fraudulent entry, send the bureau a dispute in writing that includes your contact information, the account number, an explanation that the account resulted from identity theft, and a copy of your Identity Theft Report. The bureau must investigate, pass your information to the company that reported the account, and report the results back to you. Send a matching dispute directly to that company, at the address listed on your credit report.⁹

Request an Identity Theft Block

A block is stronger than a dispute. Submit your Identity Theft Report, proof of your identity, and a statement identifying the fraudulent information, and each bureau must block that information from appearing on your report within four business days. The bureau also has to notify the company that reported the account.¹⁰

A bureau can reverse the block if it decides the request was made in error, was based on a misrepresentation, or you benefited from the transaction. If a block is reversed, the bureau must notify you promptly.¹⁰

Freezing a Child’s Credit File

Children are common targets because they have clean credit files and the fraud often goes undetected for years. A parent or legal guardian can place a free security freeze on the file of anyone under 16. If the child doesn’t have a file yet, the bureau must create one solely to freeze it; the file cannot be used for credit decisions.¹¹

Contact each of the three bureaus and provide proof of your authority, such as the child’s birth certificate. Placing the freeze is free, and lifting it later, when the child is old enough to apply for credit on their own, is also free.¹¹

Confirmations, Records, and Complaints

After you place a freeze online or by phone, the bureau must send you written confirmation within five business days, along with instructions for managing the freeze and information about your right to lift or remove it.⁴

If your submission is incomplete, the bureau will ask for more documents. Respond quickly so you don’t lose protection in the meantime. Keep every confirmation letter, dispute response, and copy of your Identity Theft Report in one dedicated file. New fraudulent accounts can surface months or years later, and you’ll want the paper trail.

If a bureau fails to process your alert, freeze, or dispute correctly, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov.⁵

1
Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Recovery Steps
2
Federal Trade Commission. IdentityTheft.gov – Report Identity Theft and Get a Recovery Plan
3
Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention, Fraud Alerts and Active Duty Alerts
5
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Do I Do if I’ve Been a Victim of Identity Theft
6
Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Is a Credit Freeze or Security Freeze on My Credit Report
8
Federal Trade Commission. You Now Have Permanent Access to Free Weekly Credit Reports
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute an Error on My Credit Report
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-2 – Block of Information Resulting From Identity Theft
11
Federal Trade Commission. New Protections Available for Minors Under 16