Disputes and Fraud
Dispute and fraud terms that explain identity protection, file freezes, and the steps used to challenge or contain harmful credit activity.
Disputes and fraud pages explain what readers can do when credit information is wrong, unfamiliar, or exposed to identity-theft risk. This section focuses on practical protective steps and the vocabulary used when working with bureaus and furnishers.
Start here when you need to understand the difference between monitoring a file and actively locking down or disputing activity.
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In this section
- Credit Freeze
A credit freeze restricts access to a consumer's credit report for most new credit checks.
- Identity Theft
Identity theft is the misuse of someone's personal information to open accounts, make charges, or impersonate that consumer in credit activity.
- Fraud Alert
A fraud alert is a notice on a credit file telling lenders to use extra caution when reviewing new credit requests.
- Credit Lock
A credit lock is a bureau-controlled tool used to restrict or manage new-credit access to a consumer's file.
- Mixed Credit File
A mixed credit file is a credit report that contains information belonging partly to another person.
- Unauthorized Charge
An unauthorized charge is a transaction the consumer did not approve or initiate.
- Unauthorized Inquiry
An unauthorized inquiry is a credit-report inquiry the consumer does not recognize or did not permit.
- Unauthorized Account
An unauthorized account is a credit account appearing on the report that the consumer did not open or approve.
- Account Takeover
Account takeover is a situation where someone gains control of an existing credit account without the consumer's permission.