Fraud Alert
A notice placed on a consumer credit file that tells lenders to take additional steps to verify identity before opening new credit — free and legally required to be spread to all three bureaus.
Also known as: credit alert, initial fraud alert, extended fraud alert
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
A fraud alert is a flag added to a consumer's credit report instructing creditors to take extra precautions — typically calling a number you specify or using enhanced verification — before extending credit. Under the FCRA, placing an initial fraud alert at any one of the three major US credit bureaus automatically triggers a requirement for that bureau to notify the other two within three business days, so you only need to contact one.
There are three types of fraud alert in the US: (1) an initial one-year alert, available to anyone without proof of victimisation; (2) an extended seven-year alert, available to confirmed identity theft victims who file an identity theft report with the FTC; and (3) an active-duty alert for military personnel on deployment. In the UK, the nearest equivalent is a CIFAS Protective Registration, which flags the address on fraud-prevention databases.
A fraud alert is less restrictive than a credit freeze: it does not block credit checks but requires lenders to verify identity more rigorously. It is a good first step while a victim investigates their situation, but for stronger protection a security freeze is recommended in parallel.
Examples
- A consumer whose wallet was stolen places a free initial fraud alert by calling Experian; it is automatically forwarded to Equifax and TransUnion.
- An identity theft victim files a report with IdentityTheft.gov, then uses the documentation to place a seven-year extended fraud alert.