CU's guide to security freeze protection

Consumers Union's Guide to Security Freeze Protection
There are more than eight million new victims of identity theft each year in the U.S. Many of these victims find that crooks have used stolen personal information like Social Security numbers to open new accounts in their victim’s name. A security freeze gives consumers the choice to “freeze” or lock access to their credit file against anyone trying to open up a new account or to get new credit in their name.

When a security freeze is in place at all three major credit bureaus, an identity thief cannot open a new account because the potential creditor or seller of services will not be able to check the credit file. When the consumer is applying for credit, he or she can lift the freeze temporarily using a PIN so legitimate applications for credit or services can be processed. For more information, see: Frequently Asked Questions about the security freeze. To help you decide if getting a security freeze is right for you, click here.

To lear more about states that have adopted security freeze laws, click here or go to:

http://www.consumersunion.org/finance/creditfreezeinfo.htm