How long is a 90-day fraud alert valid?

A 90-day fraud alert is valid for precisely 90 days from the date it is placed on a consumer's credit report. This alert is designed to inform potential creditors to take extra steps in verifying a consumer's identity before issuing credit or loans, thereby helping to protect against identity theft.

Once the 90 days have passed, the fraud alert will automatically expire. Consumers can choose to renew their fraud alert if they believe they are still at risk for identity theft by reapplying for another 90-day alert; however, the initial period allows them to maintain an ongoing level of protection for a specific timeframe without needing to take additional action immediately.

Other potential durations, such as 30 days, 60 days, or 120 days, do not apply in the context of the standard 90-day fraud alert period and thus would not be considered correct answers in this situation.