How to Freeze Your Credit After a Scam — Step by Step

If a scammer has your Social Security number, your date of birth, or other personal information, freezing your credit is one of the most important things you can do. A credit freeze prevents anyone, including scammers, from opening new accounts in your name. No new credit cards. No new loans. No new accounts. Period.

The best part? It is completely free, it does not affect your credit score, and you can do it in about 30 minutes. Here is exactly how.

What Is a Credit Freeze?

A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, locks your credit file at the three major credit bureaus. When your credit is frozen, lenders cannot pull your credit report, which means they cannot approve new accounts in your name.

This is important because most identity theft involves opening new accounts. A scammer with your Social Security number might try to open a credit card, take out a loan, or even rent an apartment in your name. A credit freeze stops all of that.

A credit freeze does not affect your existing accounts. Your current credit cards, loans, and bank accounts continue to work normally. It also does not affect your credit score.

You Need to Freeze at All Three Bureaus

There are three major credit bureaus in the United States: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You must freeze your credit at all three separately. Freezing at one does not freeze the others. A scammer only needs one unfrozen bureau to open an account.

Here is how to freeze at each one. You can do it by phone or online. If you are not comfortable with websites, the phone numbers work just as well.

Equifax

• Phone: 1-800-349-9960
• Website: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze

If you call, you will go through an automated system that verifies your identity by asking questions about your credit history (things like which bank holds your mortgage or what street you lived on in 2015). Once verified, the freeze is placed immediately.

If you use the website, you will need to create an Equifax account if you do not already have one. Then navigate to the credit freeze section and follow the prompts.

Experian

• Phone: 1-888-397-3742
• Website: experian.com/freeze

Experian's phone process is similar to Equifax. You will verify your identity and the freeze will be placed. Online, you will need to create an Experian account and then request the freeze through your account dashboard.

TransUnion

• Phone: 1-888-909-8872
• Website: transunion.com/credit-freeze

TransUnion also offers both phone and online options. The process is the same: verify your identity and request the freeze.

Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert: What Is the Difference?

A credit freeze completely blocks access to your credit report. No one can pull it without your permission. This is the strongest protection available.

A fraud alert is weaker. It tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening an account, but it does not actually prevent them from pulling your credit. A determined scammer or a careless lender might still open an account.

There are two types of fraud alerts:

• Initial fraud alert: Lasts one year. You only need to place it at one bureau and they will notify the other two. Good as a temporary measure while you decide whether to freeze.
• Extended fraud alert: Lasts seven years. Requires a copy of an identity theft report filed with the FTC at identitytheft.gov.

Our recommendation: if you have been scammed and your personal information was exposed, do both. Place fraud alerts immediately (takes five minutes at one bureau) and then follow up with full freezes at all three bureaus.

How to Unfreeze (Thaw) Your Credit

When you need to apply for credit, a new apartment, a cell phone plan, or anything that requires a credit check, you will need to temporarily lift (thaw) your freeze.

You can do this online or by phone at each bureau using the PIN they gave you. You can lift the freeze for a specific lender, for a specific period of time, or permanently.

By law, credit bureaus must lift a freeze within one hour if you request it online or by phone. So if you are at a car dealership or applying for a credit card, you can lift the freeze in real time.

Once the purpose is complete, refreeze your credit. There is no limit to how many times you can freeze and unfreeze.

Should Everyone Freeze Their Credit?

Many security experts recommend that everyone freeze their credit, whether or not they have been scammed. Data breaches have exposed the Social Security numbers of hundreds of millions of Americans. Your information may already be available to criminals even if you have never been scammed.

A proactive credit freeze costs nothing, has no downside to your credit score, and provides strong protection against identity theft. The only inconvenience is needing to thaw your credit when you legitimately need it, which takes a few minutes.

If you are helping a parent with scam recovery, freezing their credit should be one of the first steps you take together. Sit with them, call each bureau on speakerphone, and walk through the process together. Write down the PINs and keep them in a safe place you both know about.

After the Freeze: Monitor Your Credit Reports

Even with a freeze in place, check your credit reports regularly at annualcreditreport.com. You are entitled to free weekly reports from all three bureaus. Look for any accounts or inquiries you do not recognize.

If you find unauthorized activity despite having a freeze, file an identity theft report at identitytheft.gov and contact the bureau immediately.

A credit freeze is one of the strongest tools available to protect yourself after a scam. It is free, it is fast, and it works. Do it today.