Credit freezes (also called security freezes) prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name by not allowing anyone to check your credit report. Most creditors won’t issue new credit if they can’t see it, so with a freeze in place, no one (not even you) can open a new credit account in your name until you unfreeze it.
You can freeze your credit file at each major credit bureau (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) at no cost. To be most effective, you should request a freeze from each of the credit bureaus.
