I Put a Fraud Alert on My Credit Reports. Here’s Why You Should, Too

If deleting and reporting scam texts and phone calls has become part of your daily routine, there’s another simple way to protect yourself from fraud — and it may be more effective. Placing a fraud alert on your credit reports can prevent scammers from inflicting financial harm, and it’s easier to do than you think.

A recent CNET survey showed that as many as 96% of Americans are targeted by scammers each week, either by email, a phone call or text. And data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that financial losses due to fraud reached $12.5 billion in 2024 — a 25% increase from the year prior.

Reporting fraud is important for helping law enforcement catch criminals and inform the public about popular scams, but may not help as much on a personal level. Fraud alerts are specific to you and your credit reports, and they can warn you quickly that someone is using your personal info.

I placed fraud alerts on my credit reports with all three of the major credit reporting bureaus, and it only took about 10 minutes. Here’s how you can, too.

What can a fraud alert do?

Placing fraud alerts on your credit reports can prevent criminals from opening new accounts in your name. By setting up alerts with the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), you can add an extra layer of protection if a thief tries to open an account in your name.

The actual fraud alert is a message that appears on your credit reports that lenders can see. It lets them know that your sensitive information could be compromised, and to take extra steps to verify your identity. 

It’s important to alert all of the credit bureaus — not just one — since a new account may not necessarily be reported to all three. 

How credit report fraud alerts work depends on the type you set up, and there are three types to choose from. All three types of fraud alerts are free to set up, and the process only takes a few minutes from start to finish.

Initial fraud alert 

Initial fraud alerts last for one year and alert businesses to check with you before a new account is opened in your name. 

For example, if you or someone else tried to open a new credit card account, the card issuer would reach out to you to verify before approval. You can renew an initial fraud alert after the first year. Anyone can set up an initial fraud alert for any reason, even if they just worry they’ll be a victim of fraud.

Extended fraud alert 

An extended fraud alert also ensures that businesses have to contact you before opening any new accounts in your name. However, these fraud alerts last for seven years instead of one, and they’re only available to people who have experienced identity theft and completed an FTC identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov or filed a police report. 

These alerts can also be renewed once the initial seven-year period ends.

Active duty alert 

Active duty service members can use an active duty alert to protect their credit while they’re away. This type of alert lasts for one year automatically, but members can renew it for the length of their deployment after year one.

How to set up a fraud alert on your credit reports

You’ll need to set up fraud alerts with all three of the credit bureaus using the contact information below:

When you visit each of these pages, you’ll see the steps you can take to protect your credit and personal information. 

For example, you’ll see options that let you freeze your credit reports completely or dispute incorrect information on your credit reports. You can also place a fraud alert on your credit reports.

From there, the process is fairly simple. Here’s what the Experian website looks like when you visit its credit help page:

Step 1: Select ‘fraud alerts,’ then create an account

When you click on “fraud alerts” on the Experian page, you’ll be prompted to create an account or sign into an existing Experian account. 

If you create a new account, you’ll need to share personal information like your full name, address, employment, date of birth and Social Security number (SSN).

Step 2: Choose the type of fraud alert

Once you log into your account, you can choose the type of fraud alert you want: an initial fraud alert, an extended fraud alert or an active duty alert. Since I hadn’t been a victim of identity theft so far, I opted to open initial fraud alerts that last for one year on my credit reports. 

Step 3: Confirm your phone number

This step requires you to verify your phone number, which should match the number they have on file from when you created your account.

Step 4: Place the fraud alert

Once you verify your phone number, the fraud alert is placed on your credit report automatically in seconds. Experian also says it will notify the other credit bureaus when a fraud alert is placed, but just in case, it’s a good idea to contact Equifax and TransUnion yourself. Experian will also automatically remove your name and address from pre-screened offer lists for six months.

You can remove a fraud alert with any of the credit bureaus using the same process. You’ll simply head to the bureau’s credit help page, navigate to the fraud alerts section, and choose the option to manage your alerts. From there, you can remove the fraud alert with just a few clicks.

How to act on a fraud alert

If you set up a fraud alert on your credit reports and you’re notified someone else is trying to open an account in your name, this is a sign someone may have your sensitive personal information. 

This could be the result of a phishing scam or a criminal hacking into your accounts. Criminals getting hold of your sensitive personal details can also be the result of a major data breach.

• Maintain the fraud alert and renew as needed. If you were notified someone else was trying to open an account in your name and had the chance to stop it due to your fraud alert, the process worked. You can continue protecting yourself by renewing your fraud alert each time it is set to expire.
• Freeze your credit reports. Another more drastic step involves freezing your credit reports with all three credit bureaus. A freeze prevents new accounts, full stop. If you want to open a new credit card or take out a loan and your credit is frozen, you’ll need to temporarily unfreeze your credit reports first.
• Sign up for identity theft monitoring. You can also sign up for identity theft protection services, which can notify you if someone tries to open an account in your name and about other changes to your credit. These services tend to offer up to $1 million in identity theft insurance as well as other perks.
• Report the attempted fraud. You can also report attempted credit card and loan fraud to the authorities, including the Internet Crime Complaint Center and IdentityTheft.gov. Reach out to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) to report mail-related scams.

Can you add a fraud alert if your credit is frozen?

You can set up a fraud alert on your credit reports if your credit is already frozen, but you don’t need to. Freezing your credit is more severe than setting up a fraud alert since it prevents anyone from opening a new account in your name (including you). Freezes are also indefinite, compared to fraud alerts that typically last a year.

When you freeze your credit reports, you have to take steps to temporarily unfreeze your reports if you want to apply for a credit card or a loan. Fortunately, all three credit bureaus let you set a specific time for your credit to be unfrozen, such as 24 or 36 hours, so you can apply for new credit before your reports are frozen again.