How do you put an alert on your social security number for free

We'll monitor your info every day, for free  

Social Security Number Alerts

We'll notify you if your Social Security number is found on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.1

New Account Alerts

We'll notify you if any new credit cards, mortgages, car loans or other accounts are opened on your Experian® credit report.1

New Inquiry Alerts

We'll monitor your Experian® credit report every day and alert you when anyone pulls your credit, so you can recognize possible fraud.1

Millions of people have had their info stolen some might not even know it

  • Americans lost $56 billion

    to identity fraud in 20202

  • 2.8 million Fraud Reports

    were filed by consumers in 20213

Activate your free alerts and we'll do the rest

Activate your free alerts and we'll do the rest

24/7 Fraud Protection

We proactively monitor your card and account for any fraudulent activity.

$0 Fraud Liability Guarantee

You're never responsible for unauthorized purchases made on your Discover card.

Freeze It®

Freeze your account in seconds to prevent new purchases on your account.4

Free Overnight Card Delivery By Request

We'll get you a new card fast, if it's ever lost or stolen.5

How do you put an alert on your social security number for free

Apply Now if you're pre-approved for a Discover It Card

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How do you put an alert on your social security number for free

Apply Now if you're pre-approved for a Discover It Card

Already a cardmember? Log in

Frequently asked questions

What are the SSN, Inquiry & New Account Alerts offered by Discover?

We are offering a free monitoring service for Primary credit cardmembers that helps them look out for potential fraud threats beyond their Discover card accounts. Once you sign up for the service, we will send you alerts via email (and text message if you prefer). The service consists of three different types of alerts:

  1. We'll notify you if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites that we are monitoring.
  2. We'll monitor your Experian® credit report every day and alert you when anyone pulls your credit, so you can recognize possible fraud.
  3. We'll monitor your Experian® credit report every day and notify you when new credit cards, mortgages, car loans or other credit accounts are listed in your name—even if they're not Discover accounts.

How do these SSN, Inquiry & New Account Alerts actually work?

We monitor thousands of sites on the Dark Web—a hidden area of the Internet where stolen Social Security numbers can be traded or sold for the purposes of identity theft and fraud. This process is also called internet scanning or internet surveillance. If we find your Social Security number, we'll send you an alert and help you take action.

We also monitor your Experian credit report and notify you whenever any new inquiry or credit account is reported to your Experian credit file, even if it's not a Discover account. In most cases, you will probably recognize it as an activity that you authorized. However, if you don't recognize the activity, we'll let you know what steps you need to take including informing the credit bureaus and report the activity as fraudulent.

How do these alerts differ from the existing Fraud alerts on my Discover account?

Your fraud alerts (such as suspicious activity alerts and account log in alerts) keep you in the know about activity on your Discover Card account. Discover's SSN, Inquiry & New Account Alerts differ in that they keep you informed of any new inquiries or accounts opened on your Experian credit report or if your Social Security number is found on one of the thousands of Dark Web sites that we monitor, which may signal an increased exposure to identity theft.

What is identity theft and how can I protect myself?

Identity theft is when someone steals your information, like your Social Security number, to assume your identity for the purposes of opening new accounts, signing up for services, or taking out loans in your name.

The easiest way to protect yourself from identity theft is by protecting your personal information. We suggest that you always do the following:

  • Shred any documents with account and other identifying numbers.
  • Check your personal credit report at least annually.
  • Change your email and other passwords regularly.
  • Think twice before sharing personal information with store clerks and telemarketers.
  • Stop paper statements. Get your statements online.
  • Enroll in email alerts to monitor your account activity.

What should I consider after a data breach?

Be sure to visit www.annualcreditreport.com to get a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company. And of course, closely monitor all your accounts for fraud. Your Discover card has a $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee, so you're never held responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover card account. We monitor every purchase, every day and alert you of any suspicious transactions by email, text or phone call. If you become the victim of identity theft, consult helpful resources like Link Identity Theft government sitewww.identitytheft.gov.

Why didn't I get an alert if I was affected by a data breach?

You'll get a free alert when we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Not all stolen information from a data breach ends up on these Dark Web sites. If they do, you'll receive an alert.

You'll get a free alert when a new credit inquiry appears on your Experian® credit report. When they do, you'll receive an alert.

You'll also get a free alert when there are new car loans, mortgages, credit cards or other accounts on your Experian® credit report. Keep in mind that it takes time, sometimes several weeks, for a lender to report a new account to Experian. When they do, you'll receive an alert.

1. Discover® Identity Alerts are offered by Discover Bank at no cost, only available online, and currently include the following services: (a) daily monitoring of your Experian® credit report and an alert when a new inquiry or account is listed on your report; (b) daily monitoring of thousands of Dark Web sites known for revealing personal information and an alert if your Social Security Number is found on such a website. This information is intended for, and only provided to, Primary credit cardmembers whose accounts are open, in good standing and have an email address on file. The Primary cardmember must agree online to receive identity alerts. Identity alert services are based on Experian information and data which may differ from information and data at other credit bureaus. Monitoring your credit report does not impact your credit score. This benefit may change or end in the future. Discover Bank is not a credit repair organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit discover.com/freealerts.

2. 2022 Identity Fraud Study: The Virtual Battleground | Javelin Strategy & Research (javelinstrategy.com)

3. New Data Shows FTC Received 2.8 Million Fraud Reports from Consumers in 2021 | Federal Trade Commission

4. When you freeze your account, Discover will not authorize new purchases, cash advances or balance transfers. However, some activity will continue, including bills that merchants mark as recurring, as well as returns, credits, dispute adjustments, payments, Discover protection product fees, other account fees, interest, rewards redemptions and certain other exempted transactions.

5. Overnight shipping is not available to P.O. boxes or addresses outside the U.S. Carrier overnight shipping limitations apply that may impact the delivery date. For Discover it cardmembers only.

1. Discover® Identity Alerts are offered by Discover Bank at no cost, only available online, and currently include the following services: (a) daily monitoring of your Experian® credit report and an alert when a new inquiry or account is listed on your report; (b) daily monitoring of thousands of Dark Web sites known for revealing personal information and an alert if your Social Security Number is found on such a website. This information is intended for, and only provided to, Primary credit cardmembers whose accounts are open, in good standing and have an email address on file. The Primary cardmember must agree online to receive identity alerts. Identity alert services are based on Experian information and data which may differ from information and data at other credit bureaus. Monitoring your credit report does not impact your credit score. This benefit may change or end in the future. Discover Bank is not a credit repair organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit discover.com/freealerts.

2. 2022 Identity Fraud Study: The Virtual Battleground | Javelin Strategy & Research (javelinstrategy.com)

3. New Data Shows FTC Received 2.8 Million Fraud Reports from Consumers in 2021 | Federal Trade Commission

How do I put a lock on my Social Security number?

If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).

How do you put a red flag on your Social Security number?

How to put a flag on your social security number or credit report.
Contact one of the three credit reporting agencies (Transunion, Equifax, or Experian). ... .
After a few days, check with the other two credit bureaus to verify that they've received the fraud alert as well..

How do I put an alert on my identity?

You may contact any of the three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to request a fraud alert. Once you place an alert with one of the bureaus, that bureau will send your request to the other two bureaus.

What happens when you freeze your Social Security number?

A “security freeze” blocks access to your credit unless you have given your permission. This can prevent an identity thief from opening a new account or getting credit in your name.

How do you check to see if someone stole your identity?

What you can do to detect identity theft.
Track what bills you owe and when they're due. If you stop getting a bill, that could be a sign that someone changed your billing address..
Review your bills. ... .
Check your bank account statement. ... .
Get and review your credit reports..

How do you know if your Social Security number has been hacked?

If you check your credit information and notice accounts that you didn't initiate, you're probably a victim of SSN theft. Another sign is if you are turned down for a new credit application even though you've had great credit before.