You heard of a credit freeze on
television or in a movie one time, but may not know exactly what it is or how
it can help you after experience online scams. Also known as a security freeze,
a credit freeze requires a fee and must be performed by all three of the United
States credit reporting bureaus.
Your Credit, Freezes, and Online
Scams
Although a security freeze prevents
anyone from receiving your credit report, it does not prevent the thief from
charging your stolen account or help you get your money back after falling
victim to online scams. Continue to check your bank, insurance, and credit card
statements for any more questionable items. A freeze will not damage your
credit score, keep you from receiving your once a year, free credit report, or
stop companies from sending you pre screened credit offers. Feel free to apply
for a new job, buy insurance, rent an apartment, or open an account as long as
your first request a temporary lift of the credit freeze. It does not matter in
which order you request a freeze from the following bureaus, as long as you do all three of them after suffering credit damage from online scams.
- Equifax allows you to check your credit report, get fraud alerts sent to your email, and double check your social security number and relating information on their website. You can also request a freeze, a lift for certain persons or a specified time, and totally erase a security freeze on their secure website. Submit the request by paper and through certified mail with return receipt requested for victims of online scams using identity theft. Mail the request to Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA. 30348. For minors, refer to their designated help page. To thaw an account, employ any of the above methods used for placing a freeze.
- Experian does more than just credit reporting. They help businesses and consumers use target marking, streamline decision making, manage their credit, and recognize online scams that hurt your credit. Request a credit freeze over the phone at 1-888-397-3742, through their online portal, or by certified mail with requested return receipt to Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX. 75013. They established a separate portal for credit freezing requests on behalf of a minor or a person under guardianship. Find the application to thaw an Experian credit report here or submit a request through the credit freeze portal.
- TransUnion serves businesses and consumers by providing credit checks reports, allowing disputes of items in a report, self-educate about online scams and credit, and receive fraud alerts with their TU Credit Lock program that lets you freeze and unfreeze your report right from an application on your smartphone. Their website lets you securely create a profile with username and password protection to place or thaw a security freeze. Send a request by certified mail and request a return receipt to put a freeze on your personal account, a business account, or on behalf someone else to TransUnion Protected Consumer Freeze, P.O. Box 380, Woodlyn, PA. 19094. Thaw your credit freeze by sending certified mail, again, to the same address, through your TransUnion profile, or by phone at 1-888-909-8872. The first method takes up to three business days, so choose one of the other methods for a faster response. You can view the fees in the various states on their website as well.
