How to Alert Credit Bureaus of Identity Theft: Alerts and Freezes

To alert the credit bureaus of identity theft, file an Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov, then contact any one of the three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your file. By law, the bureau you call must notify the other two. For stronger protection, place a security freeze at each bureau separately.

Start With an Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov

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

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

Have this information in front of you before you start:

Your full legal name and any previous names
Your Social Security number
Your date of birth
Current and recent addresses from the past two years
Details of the fraud, including account numbers, dates of unauthorized transactions, and the names of companies involved

The bureaus use the same personal information to verify you when you place an alert or a freeze, so gathering it now saves time on every step that follows.³

Call One Bureau to Place a Fraud Alert

A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving credit in your name. The fastest way to place one is to contact a single bureau. That bureau is legally required to notify the other two on your behalf, so one call covers all three files.⁴

You can request the alert online, by phone, or by mail. The bureau phone numbers are:

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

Online, go to the fraud alert or credit protection section of any bureau’s website and follow the prompts.⁵ If you mail your 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 mail originals.

Which Fraud Alert Fits Your Situation

An initial fraud alert lasts one year and is available to anyone who suspects they are or may become a victim of identity theft. You don’t have to prove the theft occurred. A good-faith suspicion is enough. When a lender pulls your report and sees the alert, they must take reasonable steps to confirm the applicant is actually you before opening an account.⁴

An extended fraud alert stays on your file for seven years, but you can only request one if you have a complete Identity Theft Report, meaning your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit combined with a police report. An extended alert also requires the bureaus to remove your name from prescreened credit and insurance offer lists for five years. If you want this longer protection, file a report with your local police department and ask the officer for a copy. Bring your FTC affidavit, a photo ID, proof of current address, and any evidence of the theft to the station.⁴

Active duty servicemembers can place a separate alert that lasts one year, can be renewed for the length of the deployment, and removes the servicemember from prescreened offer lists for two years.⁶

Place a Security Freeze at Each Bureau Separately

A security freeze goes further than a fraud alert. It blocks the credit bureaus from releasing your credit report to new creditors at all, which stops anyone, including you, from opening new credit accounts until you lift the freeze.⁷

The one-call rule does not apply to freezes. You must contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion individually. Federal law requires all three to place your freeze free of charge. If you ask online or by phone, the freeze must be in place within one business day. Mailed requests must be processed within three business days. The bureau has five business days after placing an online or phone freeze to send you written confirmation.⁴

Each bureau will have you create a secure account or give you a PIN. Keep those credentials somewhere safe. You will need them any time you want to apply for new credit, a rental lease, or anything else that triggers a credit check.

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

Lifting the Freeze When You Need Credit

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

Alert or Freeze, or Both

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

Pull Your Reports and Clear the Fraudulent Entries

Once your alerts or freezes are in place, pull your credit reports from all three bureaus and look for accounts, inquiries, addresses, or employers you don’t recognize. You can request a free report from each bureau every week through AnnualCreditReport.com.⁸ Write down every suspicious item. You’ll need the list to dispute or block the entries.

For fraudulent accounts, you have a stronger option than the standard dispute: the identity theft block. When you send a bureau your Identity Theft Report, proof of your identity, and a statement identifying the fraudulent information, that bureau must block the information from your credit report within four business days and notify the company that reported it.⁹

A bureau can reverse the block if it determines the request was made in error, was based on a misrepresentation, or that you benefited from the transaction. If a block is reversed, the bureau must notify you promptly.⁹

You can also use the ordinary dispute process. Write to each bureau showing a fraudulent account and include your name and contact information, the account number of each fraudulent item, an explanation that the account resulted from identity theft, and copies of your Identity Theft Report. Send disputes by certified mail with return receipt. The bureau must investigate, forward your information to the company that reported the account, and report the results back to you.¹⁰

Alerting the Bureaus About a Child’s File

If the identity theft involves a child, the process is different. Federal law allows a parent or legal guardian to place a free security freeze on the credit file of anyone under 16. If the child doesn’t yet have a file at the bureau, the bureau must create one solely to freeze it, and that file cannot be used for credit decisions. Contact each bureau and provide proof of your authority, such as the child’s birth certificate. The freeze is free to place and free to lift later.¹¹

If a Bureau Doesn’t Act

Keep copies of every confirmation letter, dispute, and Identity Theft Report in one place. You may need them months or years later if new fraudulent accounts appear. If a bureau asks for additional documents to complete your alert or freeze, respond quickly to avoid gaps in your protection. If a bureau fails to process your alert, freeze, or dispute correctly, 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
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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
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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
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Federal Trade Commission. You Now Have Permanent Access to Free Weekly Credit Reports
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-2 – Block of Information Resulting From Identity Theft
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute an Error on My Credit Report
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Federal Trade Commission. New Protections Available for Minors Under 16