Lock Out Identity Thieves: How to Freeze Your Credit in 2025

If a criminal has your name, Social Security number, or birthdate, the fastest way to stop them from opening new loans or phone accounts is a credit freeze. This guide shows you exactly where to click, what to expect, and how to thaw when you need to apply for credit—without paying a dime.

Why Freezing Works (and Why It Matters Now)

Fraud isn’t slowing down. The FTC reports consumers lost nearly $10 billion to fraud in 2023, across roughly 2.6 million reports, with identity theft accounting for more than a million reports. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center logged 880,418 complaints in 2023 with reported losses exceeding $12.5 billion. Older adults were hit especially hard: people 60+ reported $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with average losses of about $33,900. A credit freeze directly tackles one of the most damaging forms of identity theft: new‑account fraud.

What’s a credit freeze? It’s a free lock you place on your credit files so lenders, credit card issuers, mobile carriers, and many other companies can’t pull your file to open new lines in your name. You keep your existing accounts; you can still use your credit cards. You just make your file inaccessible to new creditors unless you lift the freeze (also free) with a PIN or password. It doesn’t affect your credit score and you can unfreeze temporarily to apply for credit or permanently if you prefer.

Top 3 Threats a Credit Freeze Helps Stop

1. New‑Account Credit Fraud

Thieves use stolen personal data to apply for credit cards, personal loans, store lines, or buy‑now‑pay‑later accounts. A freeze blocks most creditors from accessing your report, cutting off approvals at the root. Example: After large consumer data breaches, waves of new‑account attempts often follow. With a freeze in place, those attempts typically fail because the creditor can’t see your file.

2. Mobile/Utility Account Takeovers and New Lines

Telecom, pay‑TV, and utility accounts often query a different consortium file called NCTUE (National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange). Freezing only the big three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) won’t always stop a criminal from opening a new mobile line or porting your number. Freezing NCTUE closes that gap.

3. Synthetic Identity and “Credit Profile Number” Scams

Fraudsters build identities by mixing real SSNs (often of children or the deceased) with fake names and addresses. They try to establish small accounts and grow them. Strategic freezes—especially for kids—make it far harder to bootstrap those files.

Practical Defense Guide (Step‑by‑Step)

Step 1: Gather essentials. Have your Social Security number, driver’s license or state ID, and proof of address (utility bill or bank statement). Create a secure place to store your freeze PINs and passwords (password manager recommended).
Step 2: Freeze at the Big Three.
– Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
– Experian: experian.com/freeze/center.html
– TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze
Each site walks you through verification. You’ll set credentials and receive confirmation. Save the PIN or password they give you.
Step 3: Freeze at Innovis (the “fourth” bureau).
– Innovis: innovis.com/securityFreeze
Some creditors and identity verification services query Innovis. It’s free and quick to freeze here too.
Step 4: Freeze at NCTUE to block telecom/utility fraud.
– NCTUE: nctue.com/consumers
Choose Security Freeze. This is critical if you’ve ever had—or might have—mobile or cable accounts. A freeze here helps thwart fraudulent SIM‑based new lines and utility accounts.
Step 5: Freeze specialty banking/verification files.
– ChexSystems (bank account screening): chexsystems.com/security-freeze
– LexisNexis (identity/insurance/history reports): consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com (look for Security Freeze)
Freezing ChexSystems helps stop fraudulent checking accounts. Freezing LexisNexis adds friction for identity thieves who rely on aggregated data for verification.
Step 6: Freeze your child’s credit.
Children’s SSNs are prized for synthetic identity fraud. You can create and then freeze a minor’s file with Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis. Each bureau has a “child freeze” page with required documentation. Store confirmation letters and PINs with your records.
Step 7: Opt out of pre‑screened credit offers.
– Official site: optoutprescreen.com
Elect the permanent opt‑out by mail to reduce paper offers and the risk of mailbox theft.
Step 8: Know how to thaw (temporarily lift) for applications.
When you apply for a loan, the lender usually tells you which bureau they’ll pull. Log in to that bureau and choose lift freeze for a date range or specific creditor. Lifts are free and can be instant online. If you don’t know which bureau, lift at all three for 7–14 days.
Step 9: Verify your freeze and monitor.
– Pull free reports at annualcreditreport.com to confirm status and spot errors. Set calendar reminders every 4–6 months to re‑check.
Step 10: Layer other protections.
– Place a free 1‑year fraud alert if you’ve had an exposure and want creditors to do extra identity checks.
– Get an IRS IP PIN to block fraudulent tax returns: irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
– Create and protect your “my Social Security” account to prevent takeover: ssa.gov/myaccount
– Add a mobile carrier account PIN/port‑out lock to reduce SIM‑swap risk.

Case Study: The Telecom Data Leak and New‑Line Fraud

In 2024, AT&T disclosed that a data breach impacted roughly 73 million current and former customers and reset passcodes at scale. After events like this, criminals frequently attempt to open new mobile accounts or port numbers to hijack two‑factor codes. A traditional credit freeze at the big three bureaus may not be enough—telecoms often query NCTUE. Freezing your NCTUE file, along with the standard bureaus, helps shut down fraudulent new lines before they start.

FAQs that Actually Matter

Does a freeze hurt my credit score? No. You can still use your existing bank accounts and credit cards, and your score is unaffected. A freeze only restricts new hard pulls.

What if a lender refuses my application because I’m frozen? That’s expected if you haven’t temporarily lifted the freeze. Thaw with the bureau they use, then apply.

Freeze vs. fraud alert vs. credit lock—what’s the difference? A freeze is a right under federal law: free, permanent until you remove it, recognized universally. A fraud alert tells creditors to take extra steps to verify you; it doesn’t block access. A credit lock is a proprietary product (often app‑based); it can be convenient, but it’s not a legal freeze and sometimes only covers one bureau.

Should I buy identity monitoring? Monitoring can detect problems faster; a freeze prevents many of the worst ones. If you buy monitoring, treat it as a supplement—not a substitute—for freezes.

How long does it take? Most online freezes take 5–10 minutes each. Plan 30–45 minutes to cover all major files (big three + Innovis + NCTUE + ChexSystems). You’re done in under an hour, with massive risk reduction.

Simple Explanations for Jargon You’ll See

Hard pull: A lender’s official request to view your credit file when evaluating an application. A freeze blocks these.

SIM swap: A criminal convinces a carrier to transfer your phone number to their SIM card, intercepting your codes and calls. A carrier account PIN and port‑out lock help, but freezing NCTUE reduces the chance they can open a fresh line in your name.

Synthetic identity: A fake identity built from real and fabricated data, often using a child’s SSN. Child credit freezes help defeat this.

Why This Works: The Mechanics

Creditors rely on credit bureaus to decide whether to extend you a new line. When your file is frozen, bureaus respond with a message indicating the file is inaccessible due to a consumer‑placed freeze. Most automated underwriting systems decline or halt the application. Telecoms and utilities frequently consult NCTUE, which aggregates payment history from carriers and utilities. Freezing NCTUE cuts off that data as well, breaking the approval workflow for crooks trying to open a phone, cable, or power account in your name.

Common Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)

Freezing only one bureau. Many lenders cross‑check; freeze all three (plus Innovis) to avoid gaps.
Ignoring NCTUE. If you skip NCTUE, a fraudster may still open a mobile line. Add that freeze.
Losing your PINs. Store them in a password manager. Most bureaus can recover them, but it’s a headache.
Not lifting freezes before car or apartment shopping. Ask which bureau they use and lift just that one for a limited window.
Assuming monitoring equals prevention. Monitoring alerts you after the fact. A freeze prevents many approvals outright.

Recommended Tools and Official Resources

– FTC guidance on freezes and fraud alerts: consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts
– Annual credit reports: annualcreditreport.com
– Opt out of pre‑screened offers: optoutprescreen.com
– IRS IP PIN: irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
– SSA account: ssa.gov/myaccount

Direct freeze portals:
– Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
– Experian: experian.com/freeze/center.html
– TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze
– Innovis: innovis.com/securityFreeze
– NCTUE: nctue.com/consumers
– ChexSystems: chexsystems.com/security-freeze
– LexisNexis: consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com

What the Numbers Say

– FTC: Consumers reported nearly $10 billion lost to fraud in 2023; identity theft remains one of the most reported categories, within roughly 2.6 million total reports.
– FBI IC3: 2023 complaints topped 880,000, with total reported losses exceeding $12.5 billion. Investment scams and business email compromise are large drivers—but new‑account fraud often follows major data exposures.
– Elder fraud: People 60+ reported $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with average losses around $33,900—freezes are particularly valuable for aging parents and relatives.

Quick Checklist: Your 45‑Minute Freeze Plan

10 minutes: Freeze Equifax, Experian, TransUnion
5 minutes: Freeze Innovis
5 minutes: Freeze NCTUE
5 minutes: Freeze ChexSystems
5 minutes: Freeze LexisNexis (optional but recommended)
5 minutes: Opt out of pre‑screened offers
10 minutes: Set carrier account PIN/port‑out lock, get IRS IP PIN, and protect SSA account

Conclusion

A credit freeze is the highest‑impact, lowest‑effort move you can make to block new‑account identity theft. In under an hour, you can lock down the data brokers and specialty bureaus criminals rely on—without hurting your score or your existing accounts. Add a carrier port‑out PIN, an IRS IP PIN, and a password manager, and you’ll close off the most common routes thieves use to turn stolen data into real‑world damage.