Identity Alert:
Protecting Your Credit

Identity Alert Home Page

Protecting Your Credit

Additional Credit Protection Options

Resources

Placing a Fraud Alert

By placing a fraud alert on your consumer credit file, you let creditors know to watch for unusual or suspicious activity in any of your accounts, such as someone trying to open a credit card account in your name.

To place a fraud alert, call one of the following three major credit reporting agencies. Your phone call will take you to an automated phone system. Be sure to listen carefully to the selections and indicate that you are at risk for credit fraud.

You need only contact one of these agencies, which will automatically forward the fraud alert to the other two.

Equifax
(888) 766-0008
Consumer Fraud Division
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
http://www.equifax.com

Experian
(888) 397-3742
Credit Fraud Center
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013
http://www.experian.com/fraud

TransUnion
(800) 680-7289
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
http://www.tuc.com

Soon after you place a fraud alert, you will receive confirmation letters from all three credit reporting agencies, with instructions on how to order free credit reports. If you find anything that looks wrong or suspicious or that you don’t understand in a credit report, call the credit agency at the telephone number listed on the credit report. You may also wish to call your local police or sheriff’s office to file a report of identity theft.

For Those Without Established Credit

This is a link to a California Office of Privacy Protection information sheet offering fraud-prevention suggestions to those without established credit. http://www.privacy.ca.gov/sheets/cis3bchild.pdf

Placing a Security Freeze

A security freeze means that your credit file cannot be shared with potential creditors. If your credit files are frozen, even someone who has your name and Social Security number would probably not be able to get credit in your name. A security freeze is free to those who have a police report of identity theft. If you don’t have a police report, it costs $10 to place a freeze with each credit bureau, for a total of $30. Costs may vary outside California. The credit bureaus require that freeze requests be made in writing.

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348

• Send by certified mail.
• Include name, current and former address, Social Security number and date of birth.
• Pay by check, money order or credit card (Visa, Master Card, American Express or Discover only). Give name of credit card, account number and expiration date.

Experian Security Freeze
P. O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

• Send by certified mail.
  
• Include full name, with middle initial and Jr./Sr., etc.
  
• Include current address and home addresses for past five years, Social Security number, birth date and two proofs of residence (copy of driver’s license, utility bill, insurance statement, bank statement).
  
• Pay by check, money order or credit card. Give name of credit card, account number and expiration date.

TransUnion Security Freeze
P. O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834

• Send by regular or certified mail.
  
• Include first name, middle initial, last name, Jr., etc.
• Current home address and addresses for past five years, Social Security number and birth date.
• Pay by check, money order or credit card. Give name of credit card, account number and expiration date.