What Is an Extended Fraud Alert?

How Does an Extended Fraud Alert Work?

An extended fraud alert places a notice on your credit reports asking lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving any credit applications made in your name. This extra layer of verification is designed to help prevent criminals from opening credit cards or loans using stolen personal information.

Extended alerts are free and are available only to people who have confirmed identity theft, which you can verify by providing an identity theft report from the Federal Trade Commission or a police report when you submit your request. They last for seven years, offering longer protection than other types of security alerts.

Tip: Once you place an extended fraud alert with any one of the three national credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion or Equifax), that bureau will automatically notify the others. You don't need to contact each bureau separately to have the alert added.

Learn more: What Is a Fraud Alert?

How Long Does an Extended Fraud Alert Last?

An extended fraud alert stays on your credit reports for seven years. This longer duration is designed to give identity theft victims sustained protection while they recover, monitor their accounts and rebuild financial security.

If you no longer need the alert before the seven years are up, you'll need to ask each credit bureau to remove it (unlike when you first placed the alert). You also have the option to renew the alert once it expires if you still want the added layer of security.

Tip: Initial fraud alerts and active-duty alerts, two other types of fraud alerts, stay on your credit report for one year.

Fraud Alert vs. Credit Freeze

If your personal information has been stolen or misused, you may be deciding between placing a fraud alert and setting up a credit freeze, both of which you have the right to do. Both tools help protect you from new-account fraud, but they work in different ways and offer different levels of control.

A fraud alert asks lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving new credit in your name. It doesn't block access to your credit reports entirely, so applications you submit yourself can still proceed without you lifting a finger.

A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, goes further by limiting new creditors from accessing your credit report. You'll need to lift, or "thaw," the freeze each time you apply for credit. Freezes must be placed and lifted separately with each bureau, but they're free and remain in place indefinitely.

How to Place an Extended Fraud Alert

You can add an extended fraud alert to your credit report by contacting any one of the three national credit bureaus. Once the alert is placed, that bureau will pass the request to the other two on your behalf, so you only need to make one request.

Extended fraud alerts are free and available only to people who have filed an official identity theft report with law enforcement. You'll need to provide a copy of that report when you submit your request.

You can start the process online through the Experian Fraud Alert Center or by contacting TransUnion or Equifax directly. Each bureau provides instructions for uploading or mailing your documentation. Once your request is approved, the alert will be added to all three of your credit reports.

Steps on How to Place a Fraud Alert With Experian

1. Navigate to Experian's Fraud Alert Center.
2. Log in or register for an Experian account to proceed with placing a fraud alert.
3. Select which type of fraud alert you want to place. You'll be prompted to confirm your phone number. Experian will include your phone number in your fraud alert, and lenders may use it to verify your identity before extending you new credit. You can choose not to include a phone number by leaving this field blank.
4. Follow the prompts on screen to place a fraud alert. Next steps differ depending on which type of alert you place.

Does an Extended Fraud Alert Affect Your Credit?

An extended fraud alert does not affect your credit score or your overall creditworthiness. Its only purpose is to tell lenders to take extra steps to confirm your identity before opening a new account in your name.

But because this added verification slows down automated approvals, you may not be eligible for instant decisions at retailers or lenders that rely on quick, computerized checks. In those cases, you may need to complete the application with a representative or wait for the lender to manually review your information.

Learn more: How Do Fraud Alerts Affect Credit?

The Bottom Line

If you've been a victim of data theft or identity fraud, it's prudent to take steps to secure your credit file. An extended fraud alert is easy to set up, and it can go a long way toward preventing criminals from securing credit in your name.

If you'd like to keep a closer eye on your credit report, Experian's free credit monitoring service provides access to your Experian credit report and FICO^® Score^Θ, along with real-time alerts and insights on how you can improve your credit over time.