An older adult can freeze their credit for free by contacting Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately. To place an initial fraud alert, contact just one bureau; it must notify the other two. The older adult should make the choice whenever possible. A family member can help with the process, but age or family relationship alone does not authorize someone to act on another adult’s behalf.
Choose between a credit freeze and a fraud alert
A credit freeze restricts access to a credit report, which can make it harder for someone to open a new account in the person’s name because a prospective creditor generally cannot review the report. It is usually the better fit when the person does not expect to apply for credit soon. A freeze does not affect a credit score and does not block charges or other misuse involving existing accounts.
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An initial fraud alert leaves the report accessible but asks businesses to verify the person’s identity before opening new credit. It may suit someone who suspects their information is at risk and wants a verification prompt without restricting report access. A freeze and an alert can be in place at the same time.
| Protection | What it does | How to request it | Duration and eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit freeze | Restricts access to the credit report; does not prevent misuse of existing accounts. | Contact all three nationwide credit bureaus individually. | Free; remains until lifted; available to anyone, for any reason. |
| Initial fraud alert | Asks businesses to verify identity before opening new credit; does not block report access. | Contact any one of the three bureaus, which must notify the other two. | Free; lasts one year and can be renewed. Available to people who are or suspect they may be affected by identity theft. |
| Extended fraud alert | Asks businesses to verify identity and removes the consumer from unsolicited credit and insurance offer marketing lists for five years unless they ask otherwise. | Contact any one bureau. | Free; lasts seven years and may be renewed. Requires an FTC identity theft report or police report. |
| Active duty alert | Asks businesses to verify identity and affects unsolicited credit and insurance offer marketing lists. | Contact any one bureau, which must notify the other two. | Free; lasts one year, with renewal available for the length of deployment. Intended for servicemembers, not specifically for older adults. |
The durations and terms in this table are described by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts.
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Place a credit freeze with all three bureaus
A freeze is not a single setting shared among the bureaus: the person must request one from each. Use the bureaus’ official websites or phone numbers listed in the FTC’s credit bureau contact guide. Contact details can change, so check that guide and the bureau’s official site before acting.
- Equifax: Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 800-685-1111.
- Experian: Experian.com/help or 888-397-3742.
- TransUnion: TransUnion.com/credit-help or 888-909-8872.
Follow each bureau’s official process for the person’s identity and current instructions. Do not send Social Security numbers, identity documents or legal papers to an unofficial service. A freeze is free; paid monitoring or a paid identity-protection service is not required to place one.
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When the person applies for credit
The older adult can temporarily lift the freeze when applying for new credit, then freeze the report again afterward. If they know which bureau the lender will use, they can contact that bureau; otherwise, they may need to check with the lender or lift freezes as needed. A freeze remains in place until the person lifts it, as the FTC explains in its August 2025 guidance.
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For an initial fraud alert, contact Equifax, Experian or TransUnion through its official channel. The bureau you contact must notify the other two, so there is no need to make three separate initial-alert requests. The alert is free, lasts one year and may be renewed. The FTC says this alert is available if the person is or suspects they may be affected by identity theft.
If there is already an active freeze, the person can still request an alert. For confirmed identity theft, an extended alert may be an option: it lasts seven years and requires an FTC identity theft report or police report. The FTC says it may be renewed if the report is resubmitted. The extended alert also removes the consumer from unsolicited credit and insurance offer marketing lists for five years unless they ask otherwise.
Help an older adult without taking over their authority
Whenever possible, let the older adult decide which protection to use and make the request themselves. A trusted family member or caregiver can help navigate a website, read instructions or place a call with the adult’s involvement.
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If a helper is making a request on an adult’s behalf, the FTC’s process applies to a qualifying protected consumer—for example, an adult who is incapacitated or has an appointed guardian or conservator. Age alone does not qualify someone for that process, and being a relative does not automatically give authority. The FTC says a representative must provide proof of both authority and identity; examples of authority documents include a court order naming a guardian or conservator, or a valid power of attorney. Check the relevant bureau’s official instructions for its current submission requirements. The FTC’s protected-consumer guidance describes this process; its separate procedures for children under 16 are outside this article’s scope.
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If identity theft has already happened
A freeze or fraud alert focuses mainly on preventing new credit accounts. Neither one stops someone from misusing an existing bank, credit-card or other account. Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov to get the FTC’s personalized recovery plan, contact the companies where fraud occurred, and review credit reports along with bank, credit-card and insurance statements for unfamiliar accounts or transactions.
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If a bureau does not place a freeze properly, the FTC’s protected-consumer guidance identifies the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint channel.
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