subject: How To Fight Against Identity Theft? [print this page] If you fear you could be an identity theft victim, then you need to set up a fraud alert with the credit agencies to avoid any damage to your identity. The fraud alert will inform you when someone steals your personal info. Once the credit bureau reviews the credit report and views the fraud alert, it must take some additional steps to make sure that the individual requesting for the credit report is you. Putting the fraud alert on the report is absolutely free.
Types of fraud alerts
Initial fraud alert: This alert will stays for ninety days. If you think somebody has got access to your private data. The good example is the social protection number. You should include the fraud alert to encourage businesses to make the additional step in making a point that the individual gaining access on your credit is actually you.
Extended fraud alert: This fraud alert will lasts for about 7 weeks and is meant for people who become victims. To put this alert on the report, you should supply the credit agency with the annual credit report of identity theft from the law enforcement authority. Experian and Equifax provide fraud alert form online but TransUnion doesn't provide you an online fraud alert form you have request them by mail.
Active duty alert: This alert is only available to the military members who are wanted to go beyond the sea. This fraud alert is very similar like the first type and lasts 12 months.
Placing the fraud alert
You should get in touch with any one of the 3 leading credit agencies to place the alert on the report. The agency you contact will ask you to report the fraud alert to other 2 agencies. Both Experian and Equifax provide forms online to place the initial alert on the report. All 3 agencies ask you to put the extended alert (or dispatch the existing fraud alert).
Fraud alert loopholes
Unluckily, alerts can not totally protect you. If you put the initial alert, a stealer can't steal the identity till the fraud alert expires. The stealer may try to install utility or telephone service in your identity, and they do this successful if that agency does not review the credit in application process. Alerts will rely on agencies to carry out the appropriate reviews to verify the identity. Negligence or even human misplay will let the thief to escape.
Alternatives for fraud alert
You can put the security freeze on the report. But you need to provide the PIN or password before the charge accounts is opened up in your identity. You can use credit monitoring service to alert you when some modifications made in your report. This will helps you to react to the thefts quickly.
If you are going to dispute information take a copy of each credit report.
