Office of Risk Management

Watch for these 26 red flags or alerts outlined in the regulation. If you have additional questions, visit 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