A credit freeze blocks lenders from accessing your credit report to open new accounts in your name. It's free, doesn't affect your score, and takes about one business day to place online. You must contact all three bureaus separately.
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) prevents consumer reporting agencies from sharing your credit report with lenders who want to evaluate a new credit application. Because most lenders won't extend credit without checking your report, a freeze is one of the most effective steps you can take to block fraudsters from opening accounts in your name.
You must contact each of the three major credit bureaus separately. There is no cost to place or lift a freeze. By law, if you request a freeze online or by phone, the bureau must place it within one business day.
You'll create an account with each bureau (or use an existing one) and request the freeze. Save the PINs or confirmation codes each bureau gives you — you'll need them to lift the freeze later.
When you need to apply for a loan, credit card, or apartment, you can temporarily lift ("thaw") the freeze at whichever bureau the lender uses. By law, the bureau must lift it within one hour of an online or phone request. Ask your lender which bureau they pull from; you only need to lift it at that one. You can also lift it for a specific window of time, then it re-freezes automatically.
A fraud alert is a softer option — it flags lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening an account, but it doesn't block access entirely. An initial fraud alert lasts one year; an extended fraud alert (for confirmed identity theft victims) lasts seven years. You only need to contact one bureau to place a fraud alert — that bureau must notify the other two. A credit freeze is generally the stronger protection for preventing new-account fraud. The FTC explains both options in detail.