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Fraud and identity theft

Experian adds initial security alerts and fraud victim statements to the credit histories of people who have reason to believe or who know they are fraud victims. There is no cost to add the alerts.

The statements tell lenders to take extra precautions when considering an application because there is an increased risk that fraud is being perpetrated. The alerts allow you to include a telephone number so that businesses can call you when an application is submitted using your identity.

The fraud alert and fraud victim statements are intended to be used only be people who are or truly believe they may be fraud victims. The statements tell lenders that there is significant risk in approving an application in the person's name, so they become much more stringent.

The presence of a fraud alert can delay the application process significantly. For true fraud victims, not being able to get credit is a significant but bearable inconvenience. For those who aren't truly victims, not being able to get the credit you need when you need it is more than just an inconvenience.

Experian’s online Fraud Center provides detailed information about fraud alerts, instructions for adding an alert, and other identity theft topics.

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Important facts about the accuracy of your credit report