How long does an extended fraud alert last and what triggers it?

• A. 5 years; triggered by a simple request
• B. 3 years; triggered by occasional late payments
• C. 2 years; triggered by overdue debts
• D. 7 years; triggered by evidence or reporting of identity theft

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is how the extended fraud alert works under how identity theft is handled by credit agencies. The extended fraud alert lasts seven years and is activated when there is evidence or reporting of identity theft. In practice, you place it with the credit bureaus after you’ve shown documentation of identity theft—such as an identity theft report or a police report—so lenders must take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit accounts. This longer alert gives stronger protection compared to the standard alert, which is shorter and can be triggered by a simple request. The other options don’t fit because they propose the wrong duration or trigger: five years for a simple request, three years for late payments, or two years for overdue debts are not how the extended fraud alert is activated or measured.