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Credit Bureau Disputes Identity Theft & Rights

Request for Initial, Extended, or Active Duty Fraud Alert

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When to use it

Use to place a 1-year initial fraud alert, 7-year extended fraud alert (for identity theft victims), or 12-month active duty alert on your credit file.

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Bracketed fields are filled in from your account when you generate it.

[CLIENT FULL NAME] [CLIENT ADDRESS LINE1] [CLIENT CITY], [CLIENT STATE] [CLIENT ZIP] Phone: [CLIENT PHONE] | Email: [CLIENT EMAIL] DOB: [CLIENT DOB] | SSN (last 4): XXX-XX-[CLIENT SSN LAST4] Date: [TODAY] [RECIPIENT NAME] [RECIPIENT ADDRESS BLOCK] Sent via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested: [LETTER CERTIFIED NUMBER] RE: Request to Place Fraud Alert Pursuant to FCRA Section 605A (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1) To Whom It May Concern at [BUREAU NAME], I am writing to request the placement of a statutory Fraud Alert on my consumer credit file, pursuant to Section 605A of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1). Alert Type Requested: [CUSTOM NOTES] Primary Contact Phone Number for Verification: [CLIENT PHONE] Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1, placing this alert requires prospective creditors to contact me directly at [CLIENT PHONE] to verify my authorization prior to extending credit or increasing credit limits in my name. Furthermore, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1(a)(2), as a nationwide credit reporting agency, [BUREAU NAME] must immediately refer this alert request to all other nationwide credit reporting agencies. Enclosed are verification documents confirming my identity. Please confirm placement of this alert in writing. Sincerely, ____________________________________ [CLIENT FULL NAME]

Legal basis

15 U.S.C. § 1681c-112 CFR § 1022.30

Enclose

  • Copy of government photo ID
  • Copy of Social Security Card
  • Copy of utility bill
  • Copy of FTC Identity Theft Report / Police Report (if requesting 7-year extended alert)

Before you send

  • For 7-year extended alert, obtain an FTC Identity Theft Report or police report.
Know this first
  • Under § 1681c-1(a)(2), placing a fraud alert with one nationwide CRA requires that CRA to notify the other two nationwide CRAs.

Follow up

Allow about 15 days for a response.