You may be concerned about identity theft, and understandably so. The FTC logged more than 1.3 million identity theft reports in 2025, with total fraud losses exceeding $15.9 billion—a jump of more than 24 percent over the prior year.

Among the most effective tools available to protect yourself is a credit freeze, a free and federally regulated measure that restricts access to your credit reports. If you’ve been curious about how the process works, or how to lift one when you need to, here’s what to know.

What it entails

A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, instructs the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to block access to your credit report. Studies show that a large share of identity theft in prior years involved new accounts opened in a victim’s name, not misuse of an existing card. A freeze addresses exactly that type of fraud.

Because most lenders pull your credit before approving a new account, taking this step makes it significantly harder for someone to open credit in your name without your knowledge. It does not affect your existing accounts, your credit score, or your ability to use credit you already have.

How to place a freeze

Placing a credit freeze is free and can be done online, by phone, or by mail, but you must contact each bureau separately. You’ll need to provide your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address. Each bureau will confirm the freeze and give you a PIN or account login to use when managing it later; keep that information somewhere safe yet accessible.

The three bureaus and their freeze contacts are:

When and how to lift the freeze

A freeze doesn’t have to be permanent. When you’re ready to apply for a mortgage, auto loan, credit card, or any other product that requires a credit check, you’ll need to lift the freeze at the relevant bureau—or all three if you’re not sure which one the lender will use. As Experian explains, you can choose between a permanent removal and a temporary lift, which restores the freeze automatically after a set window. Once your application is processed, you can refreeze your reports just as easily.

Credit freeze vs. fraud alert

These two measures are related but not the same. A fraud alert doesn’t block access to your credit; instead, it flags your file so that lenders are asked to verify your identity before approving new accounts. The FTC’s consumer guidance notes that an initial fraud alert lasts one year and, unlike a freeze, notifies all three bureaus automatically when you place it with one. In contrast, a freeze offers stronger protection but requires more active management. If you’ve been notified of a data breach, placing both may be worth considering.

A few things worth keeping in mind

A credit freeze protects against new account fraud but does not prevent all forms of identity theft. Tax fraud, medical identity theft, and misuse of existing accounts fall outside its scope. In a 2025 Identity Theft Resource Center survey, more than half of victims reported being targeted two or three times within a year, underscoring that a freeze works best as part of a broader approach. Being mindful of your money also includes monitoring your accounts regularly and reviewing your credit reports periodically. Freezing the credit of minor children in your household is also worth considering—since their records are often targeted precisely because the fraud may go undetected for years.

Initiating a credit freeze may be one of the more straightforward protective steps available to you. It’s free, reversible, and widely recommended by consumer financial experts. If you have questions about how it fits into your broader financial protection strategy, meeting with a financial advisor may help you think through other measures worth pursuing.

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