A very simple process that can be accomplished in a matter of minutes will give you some protection from credit fraud. You can go to the Experian Credit Reporting website and at the bottom of the page a list including "fraud alert" can be clicked and it will guide you through putting a fraud alert on your reports. The form will ask if you want to be called if your credit report is being accessed, say yes and input your personal phone number. If anyone tries to obtain a loan in your name including you, the credit bureau should call to see if you are actually applying for something. It is a minor inconvenience but worth doing and have your phone with you when applying for something or it will not work. The form also asks you to answer some personal information that they already have to verify it is you making the request. At the end of the process it tells you that they will notify the other bureaus (Equifax and Transunion) of the alert.
Stay alert!
Mary