If credit cards and personal information, such as a driver’s license, are stolen, you should immediately file a fraud alert with the three major credit-reporting agencies. At a minimum, a 90-day alert is good, but you can extend it up to seven years. Some thieves wait many months before using your information, so don’t think it’s over if nothing’s happened yet. An alert to one company is sufficient for all three, but a freeze must be requested from each individually, by mail or online.
90-day alert. It’s an advisory to anyone checking your history for credit or a loan that your identity may have been stolen. That means it can be ignored and credit given to a thief in your name, though it’s rare. Renewable in 90-day increments or for a block seven years.
Credit freeze. A complete lockdown of access to any of your credit information, except for companies with whom you already have a relationship and to law enforcement or debt collectors. A freeze remains in place until you remove it or “thaw” it, which is allowing spot access at your discretion. Don’t lose the PIN that’s provided. It will cost to replace it. You must separately request a freeze from each credit reporting bureau.
EXPERIAN
Alert: , click the “Fraud alert” link that’s beneath “Credit report assistance,” then “Initial Security Alert (90 days).” Or call 888-397-3742 to add an alert and receive a copy of your report delivered by mail.
Freeze: , call 1-888-397-3742, or request in writing to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Documentation is required, so check to be sure you have all you need at consumer/help/states/co.html.
TRANSUNION
Alert: By e-mail at fvad@transunion.com, by phone at 1-800-680-7289 or by mail to TransUnion, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834.
Freeze: Online at https://annualcredit Freeze/landing; in writing to Trans Union Fraud Victim Assistance, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834; by telephone at 888-909-8872
EQUIFAX
Alert: and click the “Protect your credit” window, then click the link under 90-day fraud alert. Or call 800-525-6285 or write: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348
Freeze: and click the “Protect your credit” window, then click the link under “Place a Security Freeze.” Or write: Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348.
David Migoya, The Denver Post
