How to freeze your credit (free, all 3 bureaus)

If you do one thing this week to protect yourself from identity theft, freeze your credit. It costs nothing. It takes 30 minutes. It stops scammers from opening new accounts in your name, even if they have your Social Security number. This is the single highest-leverage security move you can make.

What a credit freeze actually does

Credit freezes prevent any new lender from accessing your credit report. Since lenders can't see your report, they won't approve new credit in your name. Without that approval, scammers can't open:

• New credit cards
• New bank loans
• New car loans
• New cell phone contracts
• New utility accounts (in most states)
• New mortgages

What still works normally:

• Your existing credit cards, including using them
• Existing loans, mortgages, accounts
• Credit monitoring services you have
• Your credit score continues to update
• Pre-approved offers stop coming (a feature, not a bug)

Why everyone should do this, especially seniors

Seniors are disproportionately targeted by identity theft. The 2017 Equifax breach exposed 147 million Americans' Social Security numbers, and they're now circulating on the dark web. Anyone with your name, birthday, and SSN can try to open credit in your name. A credit freeze stops them cold.

If you're not actively applying for new credit (mortgage, car loan, etc.), you should have a freeze on permanently. Most retirees never need to thaw it.

Step 1: Freeze at Equifax

1. Go to equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze.
2. Click Place a freeze.
3. You'll need to create a free Equifax account if you don't have one (different from a paid credit monitoring subscription).
4. Enter your personal info: name, address history, Social Security number, date of birth.
5. Answer identity verification questions (based on your real credit history).
6. Freeze is placed immediately.
7. Save your Equifax account login somewhere safe.

Phone alternative: 1-800-685-1111. Same process by voice.

Step 2: Freeze at Experian

1. Go to experian.com/freeze.
2. Click Add a security freeze.
3. Create an Experian account (free).
4. Verify your identity.
5. Freeze placed.
6. Save login.

Phone alternative: 1-888-397-3742.

Step 3: Freeze at TransUnion

1. Go to transunion.com/credit-freeze.
2. Click Add a freeze.
3. Create a TransUnion account (free).
4. Verify identity.
5. Freeze placed.
6. Save login.

Phone alternative: 1-888-909-8872.

Step 4: Save your credentials

You need to remember your login (and any PIN given to you) at each bureau. If you ever need to thaw your credit (apply for a mortgage or car loan), you'll log in to lift the freeze temporarily.

Best practice:

• Save logins to a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, Apple Passwords, Google Passwords).
• Or write them in a secure place at home where a trusted family member could find them in an emergency.
• Don't store them in plain email or texts where they could be hacked.

Optional: Freeze the 4th and 5th bureaus too

There are two smaller credit bureaus most people don't know about:

• ChexSystems (used by banks to decide whether to open new accounts): chexsystems.com/security-freeze
• NCTUE / Innovis (used for cell phone and utility approvals): innovis.com/securityFreeze

Freezing these adds another 15 minutes total. Useful if you want to lock down everything.

When to thaw your credit

You'll need to lift the freeze temporarily when:

• Applying for a new credit card
• Applying for a mortgage or refinance
• Applying for a car loan
• Renting an apartment (some landlords pull credit)
• Signing up for utilities in a new home
• Getting a new cell phone contract
• Some employment background checks

Process:

1. Ask which bureau will be pulled (the bank or lender knows).
2. Log in to that bureau's website.
3. Choose temporary thaw (1 day, a few days, or until a specific date).
4. Apply for the credit.
5. Freeze automatically refreezes after the thaw period.

Most thaws can be done online in under 5 minutes.

What if you can't get into your account?

Years from now you may forget your login. Don't panic.

• Use the bureau's password recovery flow on their website.
• If that fails, call the bureau's customer service line.
• They'll verify your identity through other means (security questions, mailing you a code, etc.).
• You can also send a notarized letter to lift the freeze if all online options fail.

Freeze your children's and family members' credit too

• Minor children: you can freeze their credit. Identity thieves target kids because the theft often goes undetected for years. Process is similar but you'll need their birth certificate and your guardianship proof. Each bureau has a process.
• Aging parents: if you have power of attorney, you can freeze their credit. Senior identity theft is rampant.
• Spouse: they need to freeze their own credit; it's tied to their SSN.

Common questions

"Does this affect my credit score?"

No. Zero impact on your score.

"Will I still get pre-approved offers?"

Most will stop. This is a feature; pre-approved offers in mailboxes are an identity theft risk.

"Can I still get my credit score?"

Yes. Credit score monitoring services (Credit Karma, your bank's app, your credit cards) still show your score. Freeze only blocks lender pulls.

"Should I use credit monitoring services instead?"

Credit monitoring tells you after identity theft happens. Freezing prevents it. Use both if you want. Freeze is the more important one.

"What about LifeLock and similar identity theft protection?"

They do some useful things (alerts, recovery help). They cost $10-30/month and don't actually prevent the theft. A free credit freeze is more effective for prevention. Get LifeLock-style services for added monitoring if you want, after freezing.

What to do if you've already been a victim

If you suspect identity theft:

1. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus immediately.
2. File a report at identitytheft.gov (FTC).
3. Place a fraud alert with one bureau (they notify the others).
4. Check your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts (free annual reports at annualcreditreport.com).
5. Close any accounts opened in your name.
6. File a police report.
7. Notify your bank and any companies where you have existing accounts.

See our what to do if scammed guide for the full playbook.

Other steps to round out your protection

• Free credit reports annually at annualcreditreport.com (the only official site for free reports).
• Set up two-factor authentication on bank and email accounts. See our 2FA guide.
• Use a password manager. See our password manager guide.
• Watch for AI scams: see our voice cloning scams article.
• Set up account alerts at your bank for transactions over a threshold.

5 things to do this week

1. Block out 30 minutes. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus.
2. Save logins to a password manager.
3. Pull your free annual credit reports and look for unfamiliar accounts.
4. If you have minor children, freeze their credit too.
5. Tell one family member you trust about your password manager and credit freeze, so they can help in an emergency.

Video walkthrough

Video by skyforce95 on YouTube