How to Freeze Your Credit and When It Makes Sense

What is a credit freeze?

A security freeze, also called a credit freeze, restricts access to your credit report. As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB, 2025) [1] explains, “A credit or security freeze prevents prospective creditors from accessing your credit file.” Because lenders review a credit report before approving new credit, that restriction makes new-account identity theft more difficult.

Keep in mind that a credit freeze won’t shut down your existing accounts. It cannot stop current creditors from reporting activity or prevent every form of identity theft. It also won't stop unauthorized transactions on existing accounts. That said, your report remains accessible to you while frozen, and you can easily pause or cancel the freeze whenever necessary (CFPB, 2025) [1].

When should you consider freezing your credit?

According to the FTC, anyone can freeze a credit report at any time, including proactively before known fraud occurs (FTC, 2025) [2]. A freeze makes sense when:

• sensitive information has been exposed

• you suspect identity theft

• you find a credit account or application you did not authorize

Suppose your Social Security number appears in a data breach, but you find no fraudulent accounts. You could monitor your reports or place a fraud alert if you suspect misuse. Another option is the stronger restriction: a security freeze. If you are wondering what to do if someone gets your Social Security number, freezing all three files can be a preventive option.

Remember, a freeze mainly targets new-credit fraud. It will not stop misuse of an existing Wings West card or account, so keep reviewing transactions and alerts (CFPB, 2026) [3].

How to freeze your credit with all three bureaus

Learning how to freeze your credit is pretty straightforward. Moreover, locking and unlocking your files won't cost you a dime. The only catch is that you have to set it up individually with each of the three major bureaus.

1. Visit the official Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion freeze pages. All three also offer phone or mail options.

2. Complete the bureau’s identity-verification steps. Then securely save any login or confirmation information you use to manage the freeze.

3. Avoid services claiming you must pay to add or lift a freeze. Thanks to Federal law, you have the right to place, temporarily unlock, and remove a security freeze for free (CFPB, 2025) [1].

That’s how to freeze your credit in three easy steps. When you later need a credit check, temporarily lift the appropriate freeze and restore it after the lender completes its review.

Credit freeze vs. fraud alert

A credit freeze and fraud alert both help address new-credit identity theft, but they work differently.

• A freeze restricts prospective creditors from accessing your file. On the other hand, a fraud alert keeps the report accessible but requires businesses to take additional steps to verify your identity before granting new credit (FTC, 2025; CFPB, 2026) [2,3].

• A freeze must be requested from each bureau separately. In contrast, you can place an initial fraud alert through one bureau, which must notify the other two (FTC, 2025; CFPB, 2026) [2,3].

• An initial fraud alert lasts for one year and can be renewed. A freeze stays in place until you lift or remove it (FTC, 2025) [2].

If you are responding to a data breach, monitoring may suit a lower-risk situation. An alert adds verification, and a freeze creates the strongest barrier to new-credit access.

What to do after freezing your credit

A freeze is only one part of a broader fraud prevention response. Unfortunately, fraud is surging, with the FTC reporting about $16 billion in fraud losses in 2025, roughly 25% more than in 2024 (FTC, 2026) [4]. These statistics reinforce the need to monitor existing accounts and report fraud as follows:         

• Review your financial accounts and credit reports for unfamiliar activity. Regular monitoring can help protect your identity and reveal accounts, inquiries, or transactions you did not authorize.

• If you confirm identity theft, see what to do if your identity is stolen and report or dispute fraudulent information. If the issue began through scams online, follow these steps to take after a scam.

• Contact Wings West immediately if account credentials, cards, or transactions are compromised. Remember, a credit freeze doesn’t lock a credit union account.

• Lastly, report confirmed identity theft at gov and follow the personalized recovery plan they’ll create for you.

Freezing your reports can reduce new-account risk. To protect your finances, explore more identity and fraud-prevention resources, monitor accounts closely, and report quickly to address threats a freeze cannot stop.

References

1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2025, September 5). What is a credit freeze or security freeze on my credit report? https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-freeze-or-security-freeze-on-my-credit-report-en-1341/
2. Federal Trade Commission. (2025, August). Credit freezes and fraud alerts. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts
3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2026, August 3). What do I do if I am a victim of identity theft? https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-do-i-do-if-i-am-a-victim-of-identity-theft-en-31/
4. Federal Trade Commission. (2026, June). FTC data show people reported losing $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/06/ftc-data-show-people-reported-losing-3-point-5-billion-imposter-scams-2025