If you are a member of the military and away
from your usual duty station, you may place
an active duty alert on your credit reports
by contacting any one of the three major
consumer reporting companies. Active duty
alerts can help minimize the risk of identity
theft while you are deployed.
To place an alert
on your credit report, or to have it removed,
you will have to provide appropriate proof
of your identity, including your SSN, name,
address, and other personal information
requested by the consumer reporting company.
You may use a personal representative to
place or remove an alert.
Active duty alerts are in effect on your
report for one year. If your deployment
lasts longer, you can place another alert
on your credit report.
When a business sees the alert on your credit
report, they must verify your identity before
issuing any credit. As part of this verification
process, the business may try to contact
you directly. Be sure to keep your contact
information updated, or you may experience
delays if you are applying for new credit.
When you place an active duty alert on your
credit report, you’ll also be removed from
the credit reporting companies’ marketing
list for prescreened credit card offers for
two years unless you ask to be put back
on the list before then.
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