Deployed Soldiers Should Put Active Duty Alert on Credit Reports

I think its cool that the military is working with credit reporting bureaus to help protect soldiers from identity theft. The DOD wrote today that soldiers deployed should flag their credit reports with an “Active Duty” flag so that anyone attempting to open a line of credit in their names would be more likely to be stopped.

From DODLive here:

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.

Soldiers can also protect their credit by not marrying stupid greedy women just to get a larger paycheck in terms of housing allowance.