How To Place Equifax Fraud Alert?

A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts; it lasts one year, can be upgraded to a seven‑year extended alert with a police report, and lets you keep credit lines active - perfect if you suspect misuse but still need to borrow soon.

A credit freeze blocks anyone from viewing your Equifax file until you lift it, has no expiration date, and doesn't affect existing accounts - ideal when you want the strongest barrier against new credit inquiries. See Equifax credit freeze details.

Equifax will only add a fraud alert after it confirms your identity, so have these items ready.

• Valid government photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
• Social Security number or card
• Current proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, lease, or similar)
• Recent Equifax credit report or your Equifax account number, if available
• For a 7‑year extended fraud alert: police report, FTC Identity Theft Report, or other official theft documentation
• If you cannot produce a photo ID, a notarized letter containing your name, SSN, and address may be accepted (see Equifax's fraud‑alert guidelines)

You can place an Equifax fraud alert online in minutes through the agency's secure portal.

After you've chosen a fraud alert over a credit freeze (section 1) and gathered the documents Equifax may request (section 2), follow these steps:

1. Visit the Equifax online fraud alert portal and click 'Add or Update Alert.'
2. Sign in with your existing Equifax ID, or create a new account using your email, Social Security number, and date of birth.
3. Select 'Place a fraud alert' and choose either the initial 1‑year alert or the extended 7‑year alert, depending on your needs.
4. Answer the identity‑verification questions (last 4 digits of SSN, address history, etc.) or upload a photo of a government ID if prompted.
5. Review the summary, confirm your selection, and submit. The system issues the alert immediately; you'll receive a confirmation email within seconds.

If the portal cannot verify your identity, proceed to call Equifax as described in the next section.

Call Equifax at 1‑800‑525‑6285 right now to place a 1‑year fraud alert on your credit file. A representative will verify your identity and add the alert instantly.

• Have your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and a government‑issued photo ID ready; the agent will ask for each piece to confirm you're the account holder.
• State clearly that you want to 'place a fraud alert' (not a credit freeze); the initial alert lasts 1 year and can be upgraded to a 7‑year extended alert later if you provide a police report or FTC Identity Theft Report.
• Ask for the confirmation or reference number at the end of the call; write it down and keep it with your other identity‑theft paperwork.
• Verify that the alert is active by checking your Equifax credit report within a few days, as explained in the 'verify your alert worked and monitor your credit reports' section.
• For more details on what the alert does and how it differs from a credit freeze, visit the Equifax fraud alert page.

Mail the required paperwork to Equifax to obtain a 7‑year extended fraud alert when you have an identity‑theft report.

1. Prepare a brief cover letter - State that you are requesting an extended fraud alert, reference your identity‑theft report, and list the enclosed documents. Sign the letter in ink.
2. Include proof of identity - Attach a clear photocopy of a government‑issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) and a copy of your Social Security card.
3. Add proof of residence - Provide a recent utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement showing your current address.
4. Attach the identity‑theft report - Enclose either the FTC Identity Theft Report or a police‑report number that confirms the theft.
5. Provide your Equifax information - Write your full name, current address, and Equifax consumer file number (if known).
6. Use certified mail - Send the packet to Equifax's fraud‑alert address: Equifax Security Freeze/Alert Department, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348. Keep the receipt and tracking number.
7. Wait for confirmation - Equifax must acknowledge the request within 10 business days. The extended alert will automatically last seven years from the date of activation.

(You gathered these documents in the 'gather documents Equifax will require' section; the next step will explain how the identity‑theft report itself can trigger the extended alert.)

An extended fraud alert is a 7‑year notification that Equifax adds to your file when you send a valid identity‑theft report (police report or FTC Identity Theft Report) plus proof of identity; it replaces the standard 1‑year alert and forces creditors to verify you before opening new accounts.

For example, after Jane discovers fraudulent credit cards, she files an FTC identity theft report, collects a copy of her driver's license and a recent utility bill (as outlined in 'gather documents Equifax will require from you'), and mails the packet to Equifax. Equifax stamps 'Extended Fraud Alert - 7 years' on her file; any lender who checks her credit sees the alert and must call her to confirm identity. Unlike a credit freeze, which blocks access entirely, the extended alert simply adds a verification step while still allowing legitimate inquiries.

An Equifax fraud alert stays on your file for one year, or seven years if you qualify for an extended alert.
The clock starts as soon as Equifax records the alert.

• Standard alert: automatically expires after 12 months; you'll need to renew if you still feel vulnerable.
• Extended alert: lasts 7 years, requires an identity‑theft report or police filing; no renewal needed.
• Difference from credit freeze: a freeze remains until you lift it, while a fraud alert is time‑bound.
• Expiration notice: Equifax sends a reminder 30 days before the alert ends, giving you time to switch to an extended version.
• What to do after expiration: revisit the 'Equifax fraud alert guide' to add a new alert or consider a credit freeze.

Check that your Equifax fraud alert is active by reviewing your credit report and confirming the alert appears on Equifax's record.

• Log in to your Equifax account and look for the 'Fraud Alert' line under the 'Alerts' tab.
• Order a free copy of your Equifax report at AnnualCreditReport.com; the report should show a fraud alert notice at the top.
• Call Equifax (1‑800‑685‑1111) and ask the representative to verify the alert's start date and type (initial 1‑year or extended 7‑year).
• Set up real‑time monitoring through a reputable service or use Equifax's free credit monitoring to receive email alerts for new inquiries or accounts.
• Review your report monthly for unfamiliar activity; dispute any errors promptly by filing a dispute online or by certified mail.

Maintaining this vigilance protects you while you move on to understand how lenders will handle requests after the alert is in place.

Fraud alert triggers an immediate verification step whenever a lender tries to open new credit in your name. Once Equifax flags your file, the lender must contact you directly, ask for a government ID or other proof, and wait for your explicit OK before approving the account. Existing loans or cards stay active; the alert only blocks fresh inquiries that lack your consent.

Because the alert does not block the report itself, lenders can still view your credit history after you confirm your identity, unlike a credit freeze that stops all access until you lift it. Expect a phone call or email asking for verification, a short hold on the application, and then either approval after you clear it or a denial if you do not respond. This behavior sets the stage for the next step: protecting a minor's credit.

You protect a minor by adding a fraud alert or a credit freeze to their future credit file with Equifax, then keep the file under watch. A fraud alert blocks new accounts for one year (extendable to seven years with an identity‑theft report) and alerts lenders to verify identity, while a credit freeze keeps the file completely locked until you lift it.

Both require the parent or legal guardian's ID, the child's Social Security number, and proof of guardianship; you can start online via the Equifax fraud alert page or by phone.

• Initial fraud alert (1‑year): submit guardian ID, child's SSN, and a birth‑certificate copy; lenders must call you before opening credit.
• Extended fraud alert (7‑year): file an identity‑theft report, then request the upgrade; the same documentation applies.
• Credit freeze: provides stronger protection; stays in place indefinitely until you provide the PIN/password to lift it.
• Child‑specific monitoring: consider Equifax's Family Identity Protection to receive alerts on any activity tied to the child's SSN.
• Ongoing checks: once a file exists, request a free annual credit report from each bureau to verify no unauthorized accounts appear.

Equifax often rejects a fraud alert when the request's channel, spelling, or existing file status is wrong. A typo in your name, an address that doesn't match their records, or a prior credit freeze can cause the system to ignore the addition.

Fix it by double‑checking every data point, then submit the request through the official online portal or call the correct fraud‑alert line 1‑800‑525‑6285. Tell the representative you want a 1‑year initial fraud alert (or a 7‑year extended one if you have an identity‑theft report) and ask for a reference number. If the agent says your file is already frozen or has an active alert, ask them to lift the freeze or cancel the prior alert before adding the new one.

If the problem persists, request to speak with a supervisor, obtain written confirmation of the denial, and ask whether Equifax needs any documents  -  they only ask for ID or utility proof when explicitly required, not as a routine step.