MSU-Northern ITS: IT Security - Identity Theft - Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes

Information Technology Services: Fraud Alerts, Credit Freezes

What is a fraud alert?

When you place a fraud alert on your credit reports potential creditors must use what the law refers to as “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. It is useful in stopping identity theft that involves opening a new line of credit. However, the steps potential creditors take to verify your identity may not always alert them that the applicant is not you.

There are two kinds of fraud alerts – initial one is described above and lasts for 90 days. An extended fraud alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you've been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer reporting company with an Identity Theft Report. An automated Identity Theft Report, such as the printed ID Theft Complaint available from the FTC web site, should be sufficient to obtain an extended fraud alert. With an extended fraud alert, potential creditors must actually contact you, or meet with you in person, before they issue you credit. When you place an extended alert on your credit report, you're entitled to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years unless you ask them to put your name back on the list before then.

What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. This means that it’s unlikely that an identity thief would be able to open a new account in your name. When you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to get access to your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. If you’ve frozen your credit reports, you need to plan head if you’re going to be seeking a loan or a new line of credit. Placing a credit freeze does not affect your credit score – nor does it keep you from getting your free annual credit report, or from buying your credit report or score.

Credit freezes are useful in stopping identity thieves from opening new lines of credit or accounts in your name.

Credit freezes in Montana:

Eligibility:
All consumers, and you don’t have to have a reason

Fees:
No fees for identity theft victims.
All others pay $3 to EACH credit bureau to place the freeze or to lift it temporarily. $5 to have PIN reissued.
No fee to remove the freeze altogether.

Placing a freeze: You can:
• send a WRITTEN request to EACH of the credit bureaus by certified mail.
• Request the freeze electronically or by phone:
        Equifax
        Experian
        TransUnion 888-909-8872
Credit bureaus have 5 business days from receiving your letter to place the freeze and 5 more days after placing the freeze to send you a confirmation letter with your PIN/password. If you are an identity theft victim, they have 24 hours to place the freeze after receiving your request.

Lifting a freeze:
When requested in writing, it can take 3 days to lift a freeze after they receive the request.
If requested electronically or by phone, it can take up to 15 minutes to lift a freeze.

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Quick Links Help Desk - 3765 ITS Home IT Security Services Information About... Site Index In this section... IT Security Stay Updated! Passwords Data Security Firewalls Virus Protection While Traveling... Types of Threats E-mail Safety & Spam Phishing Identity Theft Protecting Yourself Victims: What to Do Fraud Alerts/Credit Freezes Malware Web Surfing Safely Social Networks Online Harassment Copyrights & Peer-to- Peer (P2P) Applications Related Links (external) MSU Security Web Site Help Desk MSU-Northern students, faculty and staff - Use the ITS Help Desk as the first point of contact for your technology problems, questions & services! Information Technology Services Help Desk Walk-in Support: Cowan Hall 117B Telephone Support: 265-3765 E-Mail Support: itstech Last Updated: 18-Jun-2009
	Information Technology Services: Fraud Alerts, Credit Freezes What is a fraud alert? When you place a fraud alert on your credit reports potential creditors must use what the law refers to as “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. It is useful in stopping identity theft that involves opening a new line of credit. However, the steps potential creditors take to verify your identity may not always alert them that the applicant is not you. There are two kinds of fraud alerts – initial one is described above and lasts for 90 days. An extended fraud alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you've been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer reporting company with an Identity Theft Report. An automated Identity Theft Report, such as the printed ID Theft Complaint available from the FTC web site, should be sufficient to obtain an extended fraud alert. With an extended fraud alert, potential creditors must actually contact you, or meet with you in person, before they issue you credit. When you place an extended alert on your credit report, you're entitled to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years unless you ask them to put your name back on the list before then. What is a credit freeze? A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. This means that it’s unlikely that an identity thief would be able to open a new account in your name. When you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to get access to your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. If you’ve frozen your credit reports, you need to plan head if you’re going to be seeking a loan or a new line of credit. Placing a credit freeze does not affect your credit score – nor does it keep you from getting your free annual credit report, or from buying your credit report or score. Credit freezes are useful in stopping identity thieves from opening new lines of credit or accounts in your name. Credit freezes in Montana: Eligibility: All consumers, and you don’t have to have a reason Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $3 to EACH credit bureau to place the freeze or to lift it temporarily. $5 to have PIN reissued. No fee to remove the freeze altogether. Placing a freeze: You can: • send a WRITTEN request to EACH of the credit bureaus by certified mail. • Request the freeze electronically or by phone: Equifax Experian TransUnion 888-909-8872 Credit bureaus have 5 business days from receiving your letter to place the freeze and 5 more days after placing the freeze to send you a confirmation letter with your PIN/password. If you are an identity theft victim, they have 24 hours to place the freeze after receiving your request. Lifting a freeze: When requested in writing, it can take 3 days to lift a freeze after they receive the request. If requested electronically or by phone, it can take up to 15 minutes to lift a freeze. Top of page Return to ID Theft		Stop pre-approved credit offers To stop most pre-approved credit offers, call 888-5OPTOUT (888-567-8688) or go online to www.optoutprescreen.com. You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently. If you want to opt out permanently, there is a form you must print out and mail the Permanent Opt-Out Election form. They’ll put the 5-year freeze in effect until they receive your permanent out-out form. You can opt back in anytime you want. What Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes NOT do They will NOT protect you from an identity thief using your existing credit cards or other accounts. They will NOT protect you from an identity thief opening new accounts in your name that do not require a credit check. If there’s identity theft already going on when you place the fraud alert or freeze, the fraud alert or freeze won’t stop it. You must place a freeze with each of three credit reporting agencies, and pay the fee to each one. FTC ID Theft Web Site Report Security Incidents Report stolen devices (laptops, PDAs, etc) and suspected computer break-ins to ITS immediately. The sooner we know about an incident, the sooner we can respond, potentially limiting any damage.