Short answer
An initial fraud alert lasts at least 1 year, an extended fraud alert for identity theft victims lasts 7 years, and an active duty alert for servicemembers lasts at least 12 months. All are free, and placing one with one nationwide bureau covers all three.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides three kinds of alerts, each with its own duration (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1).
Initial fraud alert: at least 1 year
- Who qualifies: a consumer who asserts in good faith a suspicion that they have been or are about to become a victim of fraud or identity theft.
- Duration: not less than 1 year from the request, unless you ask to remove it sooner. The FTC notes it can be renewed.
- Extras: you may request a free copy of your file from each bureau.
Extended fraud alert: 7 years
- Who qualifies: an identity theft victim who provides an identity theft report, such as one created at IdentityTheft.gov.
- Duration: 7 years, unless you ask to remove it sooner.
- Extras: two free file disclosures from each nationwide bureau during the following 12 months, and removal from prescreened credit and insurance offer lists for 5 years.
Active duty alert: at least 12 months
- Who qualifies: servicemembers on active duty.
- Duration: not less than 12 months, and the FTC notes it can be renewed for the length of a deployment.
- Extras: removal from prescreened offer lists for 2 years.
How alerts work
- One contact covers all three. The nationwide bureau you contact must notify the other two.
- Users must verify identity. A business using your report for a new credit application must use reasonable policies to form a reasonable belief that it knows who is applying. If you give a phone number with an extended alert, the business must contact you at that number or in person before opening new credit.
- Free. Alerts cost nothing.
A fraud alert does not remove fraudulent accounts already on your report. For those, request an identity theft block. See identity theft and your credit report.
Related
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1 — Identity theft prevention; fraud alerts and active duty alerts (Cornell LII)
- FTC — What To Know About Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681j — Charges for certain disclosures (Cornell LII)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.