Your credit report contains information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses use the information in your report to evaluate your applications for credit and for many other purposes.
Unfortunately, identity thieves may use your personal information to open new accounts in your name. Then, when they don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report. Inaccurate or fraudulent information could affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or housing, now or in the future.
However, if you place an active duty alert, businesses must verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. This makes it harder for identity thieves to use your information to apply for credit. Active duty alerts on your report last 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.
To place an "active duty" 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.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; http://www.equifax.com/
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); http://www.experian.com/
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; http://www.transunion.com/
Contact ONLY one of the three companies to place an alert - the company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, as well. If your contact information changes before your alert expires, remember to update it.
When you place an active duty alert, your name will be removed from the nationwide consumer reporting companies' marketing lists for prescreened offers of credit and insurance for two years unless you ask that your name be placed on the lists before then. Prescreened offers, sometimes called "preapproved" offers are based on information in your credit report that indicates you meet certain criteria set by the offeror.
For additional information and requirements visit http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ159.108
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The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls on your cell phone or home phone. You can register your phone for free at https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx
Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint.
Military Sentinel allows people in the Navy to enter complaints about fraud and identity theft into a database accessible by more than 500 law enforcement agencies and gives access to FTC consumer information http://www.consumer.gov/military/navy.htm
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