Consumer fraud · Updated September 2026
Fraud alerts
“Fraud alert” means three different things, and most people only switch on one of them. Here is what each layer covers, which is strongest, and how to have all three running within fifteen minutes — free.
The three layers
- Credit-file fraud alert — stops new credit being opened in your name. Free, one year, one bureau tells the other two.
- Bank and card alerts — catches misuse of accounts you already have. Set the threshold to zero.
- Scam alerts by email — warns you about the scams in circulation before they reach you.
How to set them all up
- Place a fraud alert with one credit bureau. In the US, contacting any one of Equifax, Experian or TransUnion is enough — that bureau must tell the other two. The initial alert is free and lasts one year; an extended alert lasts seven years if you have an identity theft report.
- Consider a credit freeze instead, or as well. A fraud alert asks lenders to verify your identity. A freeze actually blocks new credit files from being opened. A freeze is free, stronger, and you can thaw it in minutes when you genuinely apply for credit.
- Turn on every alert in your banking app. Switch on notifications for card use, international transactions, new payees, password changes and logins from a new device. Set the amount threshold to zero so you see even the tiny test charges fraudsters use first.
- Add alerts on the accounts that unlock everything. Your email and phone account are the master keys. Turn on sign-in alerts and two-factor authentication there before anything else — most account takeovers start in the inbox.
- Check your credit report while the alert is running. In the US, annualcreditreport.com gives free weekly reports from all three bureaus. Look for accounts, addresses and searches you do not recognise.
- Subscribe to alerts about new scams, not just your accounts. Account alerts tell you after something happened. Scam alerts tell you what to expect before it does — the current impersonation scripts, fake shops and payment scams in circulation.
Never do these
- Never pay to place a fraud alert or a credit freeze — both are free at every US bureau.
- Never place an alert through a link in an email or advert. Go to the bureau’s site directly.
- Never assume a credit-file alert protects your existing cards and accounts. It does not.
- Never act on an “alert” text that contains a link and a phone number. Open your banking app instead.
Questions people ask
What is a fraud alert?
A fraud alert is a flag on your credit file asking lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit in your name. In the US it is free, lasts one year for the initial alert, and you only need to contact one of the three bureaus — that one must notify the others.
Fraud alert or credit freeze — which is better?
A freeze is stronger. A fraud alert only asks lenders to verify identity, and lenders sometimes proceed anyway. A freeze blocks access to your credit file entirely, so a new account cannot be opened until you thaw it. Both are free in the US. Use a freeze as the default and an alert when you need lenders to still be able to reach you.
Does a fraud alert hurt my credit score?
No. Neither a fraud alert nor a credit freeze affects your credit score, and neither is visible to employers or shows as negative information.
How long does a fraud alert last?
An initial fraud alert lasts one year and can be renewed. An extended fraud alert lasts seven years but requires an identity theft report — typically an FTC report from identitytheft.gov. Active-duty military alerts last one year.
Do fraud alerts stop existing accounts being misused?
No, and this is the most common misunderstanding. A credit-file fraud alert only affects new credit applications. Misuse of a card or account you already hold is caught by your bank's own transaction alerts, so switch those on separately.
Are paid credit monitoring services worth it?
Rarely. The two things that actually help — a credit freeze and free weekly credit reports — cost nothing in the US. Paid monitoring mostly resells notifications you can get for free, and identity theft 'insurance' typically covers costs you would not have incurred anyway. Free scam alerts and a freeze beat most paid tiers.
How do I get free scam alerts by email?
Create a free GACS account or join the email digest below. You get the scams spreading right now — impersonation scripts, fake shops, wallet and payment fraud — plus re-alerts when something you have checked changes status. No credit card, no ads, unsubscribe any time.
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Related
Authoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Official US channel for reporting internet-enabled fraud and cybercrime.
- US Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud
Consumer fraud reporting and published enforcement data.
- UK Action Fraud
UK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canada's central repository for fraud reports and scam alerts.
