Freeze your credit at all three bureaus

A credit freeze is one of the most effective ways to prevent criminals from opening accounts in your name. It blocks creditors from accessing your credit report when they check before issuing new credit—which stops most identity theft before it starts. The freeze doesn't hurt your credit score and you remain in control: you can thaw it temporarily whenever you apply for a loan, credit card, or apartment.

What a freeze does and doesn't do

A freeze prevents new creditors from pulling your credit report, which is the main tool identity thieves use to open fraudulent accounts. It does not affect existing accounts, your credit score, or your ability to check your own report. If you're already a victim of identity theft, a freeze won't undo the damage—but it stops further accounts from being opened in your name going forward.

A freeze is also stronger protection than a fraud alert, which only requires creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity; a freeze stops them cold unless you lift it.

How to freeze your credit

You must contact each of the three nationwide credit bureaus separately:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

Each bureau has its own process for placing a freeze. Visit their freeze page to submit your request. Since September 2018, placing and lifting a freeze is free under federal law.

Lifting your freeze when you need credit

When you apply for a new credit card, loan, apartment, or other credit, the lender will need access to your report. You can temporarily thaw your freeze for a specific time period or for a particular creditor, then re-freeze it once the application is done. Keep track of which bureau each creditor uses so you thaw only what's necessary.

A freeze limits the harm from data brokers: even if your information is sold, a thief can't easily turn it into a new account without access to your credit report.