


Experian: Visit /freeze/center.html or call 88.Equifax: Visit /personal/credit-report-services or call 80.You can activate a credit freeze by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion - and asking them to freeze your credit file.
#Equifax freeze vs lock how to
Read on to learn the difference between the two options, and how to evaluate which may be right for you. In just the first three months of 2022, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 165,000 reports of fraud related to credit cards, loans, and leases, a 12% increase from the same period in 2021.¹ Even more alarming, many victims may not discover that fraud has occurred until they begin receiving payment notices for loans they didn’t apply for.īecause new account fraud can negatively impact your credit score and finances, using a credit lock or credit freeze is a smart way to protect yourself against this kind of fraud. These are two different ways you can help to prevent fraudsters from opening new credit cards and taking out loans in your name. If you’re looking for ways to help protect yourself from identity theft, you may have heard about credit locks and credit freezes. This post was originally published on 9/17/21 and updated on 7/1/22.
