Institutional Compliance

FACTA Red Flags

Identified Red Flags to watch for....

There are 26 red flags or alerts outlined in the regulation and shown below for your reference. If you have additional questions, try the Red Flags FAQ page.

  1. Afraud alert included with a consumer report
  2. Notice of a credit freeze in response to a request for a consumer report
  3. Aconsumer reporting agency providing a notice of address discrepancy
  4. Unusual credit activity, such as an increased number of accounts or inquiries
  5. Documents provided for identification appearing altered or forged
  6. Photograph on ID inconsistent with appearance of customer
  7. Information on ID inconsistent with information provided by person opening account
  8. Information on ID, such as signature, inconsistent with information on file
  9. Application appearing forged or altered or destroyed and reassembled
  10. Information on ID not matching any address in the consumer report, Social Security number has not been issued or appears on the Social Security Administrator’s Death Master File, a file of information associated with Social Security numbers of those who are deceased.
  11. Lack of correlation between Social Security number range and date of birth
  12. Personal identifying information associated with known fraud activity
  13. Suspicious addressed supplied, such as a mail drop or prison, or phone numbers associated with pagers or answering service
  14. Social Security number provided matches that submitted by another person opening an account or other customers
  15. An address or phone number matching that supplied by a large number of applicants
  16. The person opening the account unable to supply identifying information in response to notification that the application is incomplete
  17. Personal information inconsistent with information already on file
  18. Person opening account or customer unable to correctly answer challenge questions
  19. Shortly after change of address, creditor receives request for additional users of account
  20. Most of available credit used for cash advances, jewelry or electronics, plus customer fails to make first payment
  21. Drastic changes in payment patterns, use of available credit or spending patterns
  22. An account that has been inactive for a lengthy time suddenly exhibits unusual activity
  23. Mail sent to customer repeatedly returned as undeliverable despite ongoing transactions on active account
  24. Customer indicates that they are not receiving paper account statements
  25. Customer notifies that there are unauthorized charges or transactions on customer’s account
  26. Institution notified that it has opened a fraudulent account for a person engaged in identity theft
Last Updated: 1/3/23