Freeze Your Credit to Prevent Identity Theft

The Problem

Identity theft affects 15 million Americans yearly. Someone could open credit cards in your name.

The Hack

Go to each bureau's website (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and request a credit freeze. It's free. When you need to apply for credit, temporarily lift the freeze.

Why It Works

A frozen credit file prevents any new accounts from being opened because lenders can't pull your report. It doesn't affect your existing accounts or credit score.

Pro Tips

• Free since 2018 — previously cost $10 per bureau
• Takes 5 minutes per bureau — do all three
• Lifting a freeze for a legitimate application takes minutes
• This is the #1 defense against identity theft — better than monitoring