Deployed? Get an “Active Duty Alert”

Posted on July 1, 2010 by glenn.selby

By  Carol A. Kando-Pineda

If you’re a member of the military and deployed from your usual duty station, you may place an “active-duty alert” on your credit report to help minimize the risk of identity theft while you’re away.

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.

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.

But if you place an active-duty alert on your report, 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.

Get more details about active-duty alerts, including how to place one on your credit report at ftc.gov/idtheft/military.

Check out these other posts:

This entry was posted in DoD News and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://www.hayward-dentist.com Jerry

    Yet another advantage of being in the military!

  • C.J. Callender

    Good to see that someone is being proactive about this. On my last deployment I spent at least one day a week helping my men try and put out fires due to various financial problems, and an increasing ammount were due to identity theft. You cannot imagine how hard it was for these soldiers to focus on the mission when everything they worked for was drained out of their bank accounts or they received notices that their credit rating had been slashed because someone stole their identity and got several credit cards in their name. I think the Active Duty Alert will save a lot of service members a great deal of trouble.

    • jennifer.cragg

      CJ, thanks for your comment on DoDLive.mil. I shared your comment with the author of this post. And, her next post will be “If you think, you’ve become a victim, the four things you should do immediately.” Thanks again for your comment. V/r, LT Jennifer Cragg

  • Pingback: ID Theft? Take Control | DoD Live

  • Joy Carroll

    Our men and women of the armed forces are much more appreciated than they realize. I for one thank each of you for your duty being fulfilled. It is much more than a job. You literally give your lives for our security. A resounding thank you to every one of you and when you come home our hearts are deeply grateful.

  • Pingback: Tools for ID Theft Victims | DoD Live

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Amy-Ettinger/554617733 Amy Ettinger

    C.J., I'm writing an article about this issue and I'd like to talk with you more about how identity theft is effecting deployed soldiers. If you'd like to discuss this further please contact me at plotlines@gmail.com.
    Thanks!

    • jennifer.cragg

      Amy, thanks for your comment on DoDLive.mil. I have also forwarded your questions to the author of the post. V/r, LT Jennifer Cragg