How to Remove a Fraud Alert on Equifax Immediately
A fraud alert is a practice used by credit bureaus, such as Equifax or TransUnion, to assist victims of identity theft or potential victims of identity theft by notifying other credit bureaus and viewers of a particular credit file that an individual's identity may have been stolen. By placing this fraud alert, a credit file is flagged for identity theft. This causes third parties to actively verify the identity of individuals using the credit file.
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Instructions
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The Removal Process
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Write a request to Equifax asking that a fraud alert be removed from your credit file. Be sure the letter is dated and signed. The letter must contain the following details:
- Your full name as it appears on your social security card
- Your social security number
- Your contact telephone number
- All addresses where you have ever lived
- Your birth date -
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Mail your request to the following address:
Equifax Information Services LLC
PO Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348-5069You may want to make sure that your request is mailed via certified mail with signature confirmation (not delivery confirmation) to ensure that the receipt of your letter is not contested.
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Wait 3-5 business days upon receipt of your request for Equifax to remove the fraud alert on your credit file. If you do not hear from Equifax after this time, contact Equifax Customer Service by calling 1-888-766-0008.
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Tips & Warnings
Per Equifax policy, a fraud alert cannot be removed unless a signed written request is received from the credit file holder. As a result, the alert cannot be removed immediately. Your only option is to mail your request to Equifax as fast as possible to ensure the fraud alert is removed immediately upon receipt of your request.
