Скачать или смотреть ALERT: Credit Fraud Up, Safeguard Your Identity by Understanding Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes

This can impact your ability to finance a home!

This is a BIG money maker recently and

A fraud alert is a notice that is placed on your credit report to warn potential creditors that you may be a victim of identity theft. When you have a fraud alert on your credit report, any time someone tries to open new credit in your name, the creditor must take extra steps to verify your identity. You only need to place a fraud alert with one of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion), and they will notify the other two. Fraud alerts last for one year, and you can renew them if necessary.

A credit freeze, on the other hand, is a more drastic measure. It prevents anyone, including you, from accessing your credit report without your permission. This can be helpful if you suspect that someone has stolen your identity, or if you are not planning to apply for credit in the near future. You must place a credit freeze with each of the three credit reporting agencies individually, and you will need to unfreeze your credit report if you want to apply for new credit. Credit freezes remain in place until you remove them.

It is important to note that while both fraud alerts and credit freezes can help protect your personal information, they do not prevent all types of identity theft. You should still monitor your credit report regularly and be alert for any suspicious activity.