Credit Protection
Credit protection hacks
Your credit file is what thieves use to open loans and cards in your name. The good news: the strongest protections are free. Here's exactly how to use them.
1. Freeze your credit — the single best free move
A security freeze locks your credit file so no one (including you) can open new credit until you lift it. It's free, doesn't affect your score, and you can thaw it in minutes when you actually need credit. This one step stops most new-account identity theft cold. Do it at all three bureaus below.
2. Add a fraud alert if you suspect trouble
A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify it's really you. It's free, lasts a year (seven years if you're a confirmed victim), and you only need to contact one bureau — they notify the others. Use it as a lighter-touch alternative or alongside a freeze.
3. Check your reports — free, every week
You're entitled to free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Reviewing them is how you catch accounts you didn't open. Stagger them through the year, or pull all three at once if you're worried.
4. Dispute errors directly — you don't need to pay anyone
If you spot a mistake or a fraudulent account, you can dispute it for free directly with the bureau and the company that reported it. Be wary of 'credit repair' firms that charge for what you can do yourself for nothing — that's a common rip-off.
5. Freeze your kids' credit too
Children are prime targets because no one checks their credit for years. You can place a protected freeze on a minor's file with each bureau, shutting the door before a thief ever opens it.
Freeze your credit (all three)
Free at each bureau. You'll need to do all three.
Freeze vs. fraud alert vs. credit lock
| What it does | Freeze | Fraud alert | Lock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blocks new credit in your name | — | ||
| Free, by federal law | — | ||
| Lenders must verify your identity | |||
| No monthly fee | — | ||
| Best all-round protection | — | — |
“Locks” are bureau products that may carry fees or require an app; a freeze is the free, federally-guaranteed equivalent for most people.
Keep going
TrueID.Help guides and tracks these steps — we don't repair credit, remove accurate information, or act on your credit file for you, and we aren't a credit-repair organization. The freeze, fraud-alert, dispute, and free-report rights described here are provided by U.S. law and the bureaus at no cost. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.