In short
How do I freeze my credit after identity theft?
Contact all three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A freeze is free to place and lift, doesn't affect your credit score and lasts until you lift it. While it's on, nobody can open a new credit account in your name, you included. For a fraud alert you only contact one bureau, and it must tell the other two. Report the identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan.
Credit freeze
- What it does: while it's in place, nobody can open a new credit account in your name, including you.
- Who can place one: anyone, for any reason, even before anything has been stolen.
- How: contact each of the three bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- How long: until you lift it. Cost: free, and it doesn't affect your credit score.
- Applying for credit, a job, an apartment or insurance: lift it temporarily, ideally only at the bureau the lender uses, and put it back afterwards.
Fraud alert
- What it does: tells businesses to check with you, usually by contacting you, before opening a new credit account in your name. Unlike a freeze, it doesn't stop them seeing your report.
- How: contact one of the three bureaus. That bureau must tell the other two.
- Initial fraud alert: for anyone who is or suspects they may be affected by identity theft. It lasts one year, can be renewed, and lets you get a free copy of your report from each bureau.
- Extended fraud alert: for people who have filed an FTC identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov or a police report. It lasts seven years and takes you off the bureaus' marketing lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for five years.
- Active duty alert: for active duty servicemembers, for one year.
You can have a freeze and a fraud alert at the same time. All of these are free.
Signs someone is using your identity
- A bill you normally get stops arriving: someone may have changed your billing address.
- Charges for things you didn't buy, or a new bill you didn't expect.
- Withdrawals you didn't make on your bank statement.
- Accounts you don't recognize on your credit reports.
Report it and check your reports
- 1Report the identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov: you get a personalized recovery plan, and the report lets you place an extended fraud alert.
- 2Get your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228 or by mail. The FTC says it's the only website authorized to fill orders for the free annual reports, and you can check each bureau's report once a week for free there.
- 3Dispute any mistake with the credit bureau and with the business that supplied the information.
- 4If your child is under 16, you can request a free credit freeze for them too; each bureau has its own instructions.
Paid monitoring and insurance
Credit monitoring tells you about changes to your credit reports, but the FTC notes it won't alert you when someone withdraws money from your bank account or uses your Social Security number to file a tax return. Identity theft insurance generally won't reimburse money scammers stole. Before paying, remember that freezes, alerts and weekly reports are free.
When your accounts were taken over too
Identity theft often starts with a hacked email or social media account. Secure your email first, use strong passwords and add two-factor authentication, which the FTC recommends. Our hacked account checklist and where to report, by country cover the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Does a credit freeze hurt my credit score?
No. The FTC says a freeze doesn't affect your credit score, and placing or lifting it costs nothing.
Freeze or fraud alert: which should I choose?
A freeze blocks new credit accounts entirely until you lift it; a fraud alert lets lenders see your report but makes them check with you first. You can use both. If you already have a freeze, you can still add a fraud alert.
Someone took over my Instagram or Facebook with my details. Can you help?
Yes, through the platforms' official recovery processes only, and we never ask for passwords or codes. The first assessment is free: tell us what happened.
Official sources
The platforms' own help and policy pages. We are not affiliated with them.