Fraud and Abuse

The importance of early detection of diminished capacity

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, which makes it difficult for people to open credit in your name. Especially if you no longer need to open new credit cards or take out loans, a credit freeze is a great way to reduce the chance of identity theft and fraud.

How to freeze your credit

You will need to contact each of the credit reporting companies and tell them you want to freeze your credit:

• Equifax - 1-800-349-9960
• Experian - 1 888 397 3742
• TransUnion - 1-888-909-8872

After each freeze is complete, you will receive a confirmation letter and a PIN or password. Keep this information! If you ever need to unfreeze your credit, the PIN or password will be required.

How to unfreeze your credit

If you are applying for a new loan, ask the company extending the loan which credit reporting agency they intend to use. You will then call this agency to have them lift the freeze long enough for the company to check your report.

A credit freeze does not prevent all fraud as credit thieves can potentially tap into current accounts. This is why it is important to monitor your transactions regularly and alert institutions when you are concerned about fraud or theft.