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After identity theft, freeze your credit reports with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to make it harder for someone to open new credit in your name. A fraud alert is an additional identity-check request, not a block on report access; you can add one too. Both protections are free.
Credit freeze vs. fraud alert: what’s the difference?
| Protection | What it does | Where to request it | Duration and eligibility | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit freeze | Restricts prospective creditors’ access to your credit report, making it harder to open new credit in your name. | Request a separate freeze from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. | Anyone can request one. It stays in place until you lift it. | Free |
| Initial fraud alert | Asks businesses to verify your identity before opening new credit. It does not block access to your report. | Request it from any one of the three nationwide bureaus; that bureau must notify the other two. | Available if you are or suspect you may be affected by identity theft. Lasts one year and can be renewed. | Free |
| Extended fraud alert | Asks businesses to verify your identity before opening new credit. It does not block access to your report. | Request it from any one bureau; that bureau must notify the other two. | For identity theft victims with an FTC Identity Theft Report or police report. Lasts seven years; renewing it requires resubmitting the report. | Free |
The FTC explains the distinctions in its credit freezes and fraud alerts guide and its credit-freeze guidance.
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Which one should you use after identity theft?
Freeze all three reports to make new credit harder to open
A freeze is generally the stronger first step when your concern is a thief applying for new credit. Because creditors may need to access your report when evaluating an application, restricting that access can help stop a new account from being opened using your information. You must place the freeze separately at all three nationwide bureaus; freezing one does not freeze the others.
Add a fraud alert as an extra verification prompt
A fraud alert tells businesses to take additional steps to verify your identity before opening new credit. It is useful as another layer, but it is not equivalent to a freeze: a business can still access your report. The FTC says you can use a freeze and a fraud alert together.
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Choose the extended alert if you meet its requirements
If you experienced identity theft and have an FTC Identity Theft Report or police report, you can request a seven-year extended alert. In addition to prompting identity verification, it removes you from prescreened credit and insurance marketing lists for five years unless you ask to remain on them.
What changes when you apply for credit?
A freeze does not affect your credit score or stop you from using existing credit cards. But when you apply for a new credit card, loan, or other credit, the lender may need report access. If so, you will need to lift the freeze temporarily or arrange access with the lender before the application is processed.
According to the FTC’s credit guidance, an online or phone request to place a freeze must be acted on within one business day; an online or phone request to lift one must be acted on within one hour. A request sent by mail must be acted on within three business days. These are processing timeframes for bureau requests, not guarantees about how quickly a lender will finish reviewing an application.
What to do after identity theft
- Report it and get a recovery plan. Go to IdentityTheft.gov and follow the steps tailored to your situation.
- Freeze your reports. Use the official bureau links provided through the FTC’s freeze guidance to contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately.
- Consider a fraud alert. Request an initial alert through one bureau if you want the identity-verification prompt. If you qualify for an extended alert, follow the FTC’s instructions and provide the required report.
- Check reports and account activity. Review your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts, and check bills and bank and card statements for unauthorized activity. Dispute unfamiliar credit-file entries and contact the affected financial institution about accounts or transactions you do not recognize.
- Keep watching existing accounts. A credit freeze limits prospective creditors’ access to your report; it does not prevent someone from using an account that is already open.
The FTC also recommends shredding financial records and other papers containing personal or financial information before discarding them. This helps protect information on paper but does not replace a freeze or fraud alert. See its personal-information security guidance.
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