If there are unrecognised accounts showing on your credit report, follow these steps to determine whether they are fraudulent:
1. Inquiry for the company name on a search engine
1. Inquiry for the company name on a search engine
If you see an inquiry on your report for a company you don't recognise, a quick internet search could rule out any concerns about fraud. Some banks/lenders share their information with consumer reporting agencies using a different trading name.
2. Check the opening date and payment history of the account
This could provide you with an indication of which of your accounts this may be. It’s not uncommon to see an old account suddenly appear on your credit report, which could be confusing.
3. Check the account number displayed on the account
If it doesn’t match any of your financial accounts, you can raise a dispute with TransUnion. They’ll be able to look into this for you.
4. Contact the bank/lender immediately
They will be able to stop any money being taken from your account, freeze your card and start a fraud investigation. If there are unrecognised inquiries appearing on your credit report, it could be because you browsed your ‘Offers’ section.
If you're concerned or would like more information about unrecognised inquiries on your credit report, you can raise a dispute with TransUnion.