Reader Question: How do I set a fraud alert on my credit report?

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June 29th, 2008 - Posted by Joe

Q: I recently lost my wallet which contained my driver's license, Social Security card and credit cards. How do I go about putting a fraud alert on my credit report?

A: A fraud alert is an annotation on your credit report which lets potential lenders know that you have been, or believe you may have been, victimized by identity theft. They can be an effective tool in preventing identity thieves from opening new financial accounts using your personal information. You can learn more about fraud alerts, their purpose and how to set them by reading our Fraud Alert and Credit Freeze Guide.

Losing a wallet or purse doesn't just represent and identity theft risk. It also means the hassle of replacing all of the contents such as your driver's license, Social Security card and credit cards. One of the reasons we recommend LifeLock's identity theft protection service is because they offer a unique feature called WalletLock. Subscribers that lose their wallet or purse simply have to contact LifeLock and a recovery specialist will work on their behalf to replace all the important documents that were lost or stolen. Just about the only things that WalletLock can't replace are cash and personal effects, such as family photos.

To learn more bout LifeLock or other identity theft protection service visit our guide to identity theft protection services.