A fraud alert is a free note on your credit report telling lenders to verify your identity, usually by contacting you, before they open new credit in your name. You place it by contacting one of the three credit bureaus, which must tell the other two. An initial alert lasts one year, and an extended alert lasts seven.
It's the lighter-touch option compared with a credit freeze. A fraud alert doesn't stop lenders seeing your report, it just tells them to check it's really you. That makes it useful when you think your details are exposed but you still need to apply for credit without lifting and re-placing a freeze.
Here's how the three types differ, how to place one, and the step that's easy to forget. The rules below come from the FTC and the bureaus' own pages, checked in October 2026.
The three types of fraud alert
| Type | Who can place it | How long it lasts | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial fraud alert | Anyone who is, or suspects they may be, affected by identity theft | One year, renewable | A free copy of your credit report from each bureau |
| Extended fraud alert | Identity theft victims with an FTC identity theft report or a police report | Seven years | Off the bureaus' marketing lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for five years |
| Active duty alert | Active duty servicemembers | One year, renewable for the length of deployment | Off those offer lists for two years |
Experian gives typical reasons to place an initial alert: a data breach notice, a fear that your Social Security number was stolen, a lost wallet, or malware and phishing attempts.
How to place a fraud alert
- Pick one bureau: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. You don't need to contact all three, because the FTC says the bureau you contact must tell the other two.
- Choose the alert type. For an initial or active duty alert, Experian says you can add it online in real time.
- For an extended alert, have your FTC identity theft report or police report ready. Experian takes proof by mail or upload; TransUnion takes it online or by mail.
- Give a phone number lenders can reach. Equifax says creditors may contact you by phone before opening an account.
- Ask for your free credit reports. An initial alert gives you one free copy from each bureau, and TransUnion says an extended alert gives you two.
One catch from Equifax: you need an active Equifax credit report on file to place an alert there, and you must be 18 to create a myEquifax account. If either is a problem, start at another bureau.
What a lender does when it sees the alert
Equifax describes the alert as a notice that encourages or requires lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity, such as contacting you by phone. It isn't only about brand new accounts, either: Equifax says those checks can apply before making changes to existing accounts too.
So if a lender calls about an application you didn't make, that's the alert doing its job. Equifax's advice is simple: confirm whether or not you made the request. If you didn't, say so, and that's your cue to move up to an extended alert and a freeze.
- You'll get the call or message, so keep the contact number on the alert current.
- You'll still be able to apply for credit yourself; the alert adds a verification step rather than a block.
- You won't see your score change, because an alert isn't a credit event.
The step people forget: removing it
Placing an alert is a one-stop job. Removing one isn't. Experian says the bureaus notify each other when an alert is activated, but not when one is removed, so if you want an alert gone early you have to contact each bureau individually.
The same goes for your phone number. If it changes while an alert is active, update it, because that number is how lenders verify you. Experian lets you change it from its fraud alert center; an out-of-date number can stall your own applications.
Fraud alert or credit freeze?
| Fraud alert | Credit freeze | |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks lenders from seeing your report | No | Yes, until you lift it |
| Contact needed | One bureau | All three, separately |
| How long it lasts | One year (initial) or seven years (extended) | Until you lift it |
| Cost | Free | Free |
You don't have to choose. The FTC says you can place a fraud alert even if you already have a freeze. A freeze is the stronger lock; the alert adds a verification step for any lender that does get access.
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If your identity has already been misused
An extended alert needs an FTC identity theft report or a police report, so file that first. If the misuse involves your tax return, this explainer on Form 14039 for tax identity theft covers the IRS side, and payment app fraud has its own reporting routes, covered in this guide to how Zelle scams work.
Verdict
Place an initial fraud alert the day you get a breach notice or lose your wallet. It takes minutes, it's free, it covers all three bureaus in one go, and it doesn't get in the way of applying for credit. If the misuse is confirmed, upgrade to the seven-year extended alert and add a freeze. Just remember that switching an alert off is three calls, not one.
Frequently asked questions
Does a fraud alert hurt your credit score?
No. Experian says adding a fraud alert doesn't hurt your credit history or credit scores, and TransUnion says removing one has no effect on your score either.
How long does a fraud alert last?
An initial fraud alert lasts one year and can be renewed. An extended fraud alert lasts seven years and needs an FTC identity theft report or police report. An active duty alert lasts one year.
Do I need to place a fraud alert with all three bureaus?
No. Contact any one of Equifax, Experian or TransUnion and it must tell the other two. Removing an alert early is different: you need to contact each bureau yourself.
Can I still get credit with a fraud alert?
Yes. A fraud alert doesn't block lenders from seeing your report. It asks them to verify your identity first, often by phone, before they open a new account.
Is a fraud alert free?
Yes. All three types of fraud alert are free at every bureau.
