{"id":766,"date":"2014-12-16T09:54:25","date_gmt":"2014-12-16T14:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dmcccorp.org\/edu\/?p=766"},"modified":"2014-12-16T15:16:19","modified_gmt":"2014-12-16T20:16:19","slug":"what-is-an-active-duty-alert-for-members-of-the-military","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dmcccorp.org\/edu\/what-is-an-active-duty-alert-for-members-of-the-military\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an active duty alert for members of the military?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows members of the armed forces who are on deployment to place an \u201cactive duty alert\u201d on their credit reports. This can help members of the military on active duty to prevent identity theft. The alert requires creditors to verify your identity before granting credit in your name.<\/p>\n

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information \u2013 like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number \u2013 to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don\u2019t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate or fraudulent information could affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or housing, now or in the future. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their names and credit records.<\/p>\n

If you are a member of the military and away from your usual duty station, you may place an \u201cactive duty alert\u201d on your credit report to help minimize the risk of identity theft while you are deployed. When a business sees the alert on your credit report, it must verify your identity before issuing you credit. The business may try to contact you directly, but if you\u2019re on deployment, that may be impossible. As a result, the law allows you to use a personal representative to place or remove an alert. Active duty alerts on your report are effective for one year, unless you request that the alert be removed sooner. If your deployment lasts longer, you may place another alert on your report.<\/p>\n

To place an \u201cactive duty\u201d alert, or to have it removed, call the toll-free fraud number of one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, or Trans Union. The company will require you to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include your Social Security number, your name, address, and other personal information.<\/p>\n