Identify theft prevention fraud alerts and active duty alerts 15 USC s 1681c-1

Section 1681c-1 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act is all about offering specific protections to help you keep your credit report safe from identity thieves and providing additional safeguards for military personnel during their active service. This section outlines two main types of alerts: fraud alerts and active duty alerts.

Fraud alerts are a red flag to potential creditors. When you place a fraud alert on your credit report, it warns creditors that you might have been a victim of identity theft or that there's a risk of fraudulent activity associated with your credit information. Because of this alert, creditors are then required to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit in your name.

There are a few different types of fraud alerts:

• Initial Fraud Alert: If you suspect you are or could become a victim of fraud or identity theft, you can place an initial fraud alert on your credit report. This alert lasts for one year and can be renewed.
• Extended Fraud Alert: For confirmed victims of identity theft who have filed an identity theft report, an extended fraud alert can be placed on their credit report. This alert lasts for seven years.

For example, if you lost your wallet with your credit cards and identification inside, you might choose to place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports just in case someone tries to use your information to apply for credit.

For members of the military who are on active duty, extra protection is available through active duty alerts. These alerts last for one year but can be renewed for the duration of your deployment. If a company sees an active duty alert on your credit report, it must take additional steps to verify the identity of the person applying for credit in your name, just as with the fraud alerts mentioned above.

For instance, if you're being deployed overseas, you can set up an active duty alert to help minimize the risk of identity theft while you're away. This is especially important since military personnel might not be able to respond quickly to fraud alerts or inquiries about their credit while deployed.

The goal of these alerts is to make it harder for identity thieves to use stolen information and to give both civilians and military service members peace of mind when it comes to the security of their credit information.