Do you have a question about consumer credit? You may find an immediate answer by using the search engine. If you can't find what you're looking for, please fill out the form, being as specific as possible.
Please note: The Ask Experian team cannot respond to each question individually. However, if your question is of interest to a wide audience of consumers, the Experian team will include it in a future column.
Fraud and Identity Theft
Experian adds initial security alerts and fraud victim statements to the credit histories of people who believe or they are fraud victims. There is no cost to add the fraud and identity theft 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 phone number so that businesses can call you when an application is submitted using your identity.
The presence of a fraud alert can delay the application process significantly. Experian's online Fraud Center provides detailed information about fraud alerts, instructions for adding an alert, and other identity theft topics.
- Adding a fraud alert after check fraud
- Adding a fraud alert does not hurt credit scores
- Adding a fraud security alert and opting out
- Breaking into cars to commit identity theft
- Credit file freezes and name variations on your accounts
- Credit freeze doesn’t affect use of existing accounts
- Credit report stolen from mail
- Data breach letters referring you to Experian services
- Employment ad is a potential fraud scam
- Ensuring security breach notices are legitimate
- Experian can help restore your credit history but not your identity
- Experian sues LifeLock, Inc.
- FTC consumer alert a “must read”
- File freezes must be placed with each credit reporting agency
- Fraud alert may slow loan approval but shouldn’t prevent it
- Fraud security alerts can slow mortgage approval
- Friends or relatives using your SSN
- High credit scores do not increase your risk of identity theft
- How fraud alerts work
- Identities stolen to make direct marketing offers
- Identity theft can land a fraudster in jail
- Monitoring services still work when you freeze your credit file
- Removing a fraud alert from your credit report
- Replacing a lost PIN when your credit file is frozen
- Replacing lost PIN to thaw frozen credit file
- Responding to a security notice for a frozen credit file
- Responding when daughter's debit card is "skimmed"
- Social Security number variations on your credit report
- Stolen checks and your credit report
- The difference between a fraud alert and a security freeze
- The effect of fraud security alerts on credit scores
- The impact of fraud alerts when checks and debit cards or stolen
- Veterans Affairs data theft
- What to do when items are stolen from your car
- Who is notified when your credit file is frozen
- You can get a free annual report even if you have frozen your credit file
Credit 101
- Credit Education
- Credit Education
- Credit Report Basics
- Credit Score Basics
- How to improve your credit score
- Preventing credit fraud
- Credit Reports
- Product Overview
- Credit Monitoring
- Credit Report
- Credit Report and Score
- 3 Bureau Online Credit ReportSM
- Identity Theft Protection
- Credit Disputes and Advice
- How to Request a Dispute
- Credit Advice
- Check Your Credit Report
- Credit Report Basics
- Credit Report