If you fear you have been the victim of identity fraud and want to freeze your credit, you need to contact the three major nationwide credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You must contact each of them individually to place a credit freeze, which restricts access to your credit report and prevents new credit accounts from being opened in your name. You can place a credit freeze:
- Online
- By phone
- By mail
The freeze is free and lasts until you request to lift it. During the freeze, new creditors cannot access your credit file, which helps prevent identity thieves from opening fraudulent accounts in your name. To temporarily allow credit checks (for example, if you apply for a new loan), you can lift the freeze and then reinstate it afterward. Here are the steps summarized for freezing credit after suspected identity fraud:
- Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion individually.
- Provide necessary personal information for identity verification (e.g., full name, date of birth, Social Security number, addresses, and government ID if needed).
- Request a credit freeze by online, phone, or mail for each bureau.
- Keep records of the freeze confirmation and any PIN or password provided.
This procedure helps to protect your credit from further fraudulent activity.