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  Home >> Scams/Fraud >> Identity Theft  
ID Theft Protections for Servicemembers

I just got called up to active duty. I leave for Fallujah in a short time. I'm putting all my stuff in storage, giving up my apartment lease, and having my mail forwarded to my parents' house. Is there anything else I should do to protect myself against identity theft?


Place an Active Duty Military Alert on your credit report. You can do so by contacting any of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian). This alert is for use when a servicemember is on active duty away from his or her normal duty station. It places anyone who pulls a copy of your credit report on notice that you are in the military on active duty. In other words, it's like a big warning sign to potential lenders that, in effect, communicates the message: "Not so fast. Are you sure this application or request is really from the person named? Someone may have stolen this person's identity while he/she is off serving our country. Beware." The lender would then need to take reasonable steps to verify the identity of the applicant. The goal is to not hinder a serviceperson from obtaining credit, but instead help ensure it really is the servicemember applying and not some imposter.

Published on BankingQuestions.com 7/28/06