8. Take control over your credit

• Security Freeze: Oregon residents can place a freeze on credit reports to reduce the risk of identity theft. To place a freeze on your credit report, contact each of the three credit reporting agencies in writing, or, if they have one, fill out a form on their website. The freeze is free for victims of identity theft, but the credit reporting agencies can charge Oregonians who aren’t yet identity theft victims up to $10 for each freeze, and for each temporary lifting of the freeze. Click here.  Click here for more information about how a security freeze works and how to sign up [go to “Security Freeze Information”]

• Military Alerts: If you are a member of the military and are on active duty, you may place an active duty alert on your credit file. The active duty alert will require creditors to take additional steps to verify an applicant's identity before issuing credit in your name. Call one of the three national credit bureaus [link to Resources_How to Contact the Credit Reporting Agencies] to place an activity duty alert on your file. It will contact the other credit bureaus. The active duty alert will remain valid for twelve months.

• Fraud alert: If you believe that you are a victim of fraud, you may place a fraud alert on your credit reports that will require creditors to take additional steps to verify an applicant's identity before issuing credit in your name. Call one of the three national credit bureaus [link to Resources_How to Contact the Credit Reporting Agencies] to flag your file with a fraud alert. It will contact other credit bureaus. This initial fraud alert will remain valid for 90 days. Ask for a free credit report and review it thoroughly. Fraud victims are entitled to a free credit report. If you file a report with law enforcement, you may place an extended fraud alert on your credit report that will remain valid for seven years. With an extended alert on your report, you may request two free credit reports a year.