{"id":"free-credit-fraud-alerts","name":"Free Credit Fraud Alerts","provider":"Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion under federal consumer law","entitlement_type":"government-benefit","entitlement_type_label":"Government benefit","entitlement_type_context":{"definition":"A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route.","domain":"public-benefits","archetype":"direct-program","agent_instruction":"Identify the administering jurisdiction and disclose income, household, age, disability, immigration, residence, renewal, fee, and capacity rules that apply."},"summary":"Eligible consumers can place a free initial, extended, or active-duty fraud alert that tells businesses to take identity-verification steps before issuing new credit in the consumer's name.","benefit":{"description":"A free one-year initial alert, seven-year extended alert for identity-theft victims, or renewable active-duty alert for deployed service members, depending on eligibility.","estimated_value_usd":null},"discovery":{"focus":"public-service","has_estimated_dollar_value":false},"access":{"relationships":["Consumer who suspects or has experienced identity theft","Eligible active-duty service member"],"requirements":"An initial alert is for a person who believes they are or may become an identity-theft victim; an extended alert requires an identity-theft report; and an active-duty alert requires qualifying military status. Identity verification and category-specific documentation can be required.","activation":"Contact any one nationwide credit reporting company, request the applicable fraud-alert type, and complete identity and documentation steps; that company must notify the other two nationwide bureaus.","cost_basis":"no-cost","cost_basis_label":"No-cost access","cost_basis_context":{"classification":"free","definition":"The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.","agent_instruction":"Still disclose optional add-ons, transportation, parking, replacement charges, taxes, capacity, and eligibility conditions found in fees or requirements.","variation_patterns":null,"does_not_mean":null},"fees":"Fraud alerts and renewals are free. Credit monitoring, locks, scores, and other optional commercial products are separate and are not required.","personalized":false,"regions":["US"],"expires":null},"status":"verified","last_checked":"2026-08-04","claim_url":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts","source_url":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts","source":{"primary_url":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts","evidence":[{"source":"Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion under federal consumer law","url":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts","kind":"provider","checked_at":"2026-08-04"}]},"parent":null,"coverage":{"level":"national","family":"legal-and-consumer-help","jurisdiction":"United States","maturity":"direct"},"web_url":"/benefits/free-credit-fraud-alerts","taxonomy":{"version":"1.0","url":"/api/v1/taxonomy"}}