![]() ![]() It’s probably a good idea to freeze your credit as soon as you receive a fraud alert and suspect an identity thief has your information. 1 Reviewing these important key factors can help you detect recent changes to your account. If you’re a Discover ® Cardmember, you can get a free Credit Scorecard with your updated FICO ® Score and important information behind it like credit utilization, number of missed payments, number of recent inquiries, length of credit history, and total number of accounts. Monitor your credit by checking if there are accounts in your name that you don’t recognize on your credit file, as they may be a sign of fraud. Withdrawals you didn’t make and changes to your account that you don’t recognize could be a sign of identity theft. Check your bank and credit account statements.Charges for things you didn’t buy or a bill you didn’t expect could be a sign of identity theft. If you’re past due on a bill that should have been paid, it could be a sign that someone has access to your financial accounts. Track what bills you owe and when they’re due.There are some things you can do to help identify fraudulent activity on your account: ![]() Freezing your credit with any major credit bureau is a relatively simple process, but it helps to understand how it works and when it’s the right move for you. A frozen credit file prevents this from happening and blocks access to your credit report. That’s because when you apply for a new credit account, the lender will typically use your Social Security number to do a credit check and may pull your credit file. If your information has fallen into the wrong hands, then having a credit freeze in place can make it more difficult for scammers to open accounts without your knowledge. Below, learn what a credit freeze is and how it can help protect you from identity thieves, and how to place a credit lock at one or all three major credit reporting companies. A credit freeze (also called a security freeze or credit lock) limits access to your credit report. It can also end up costing you money in fraudulent charges and the expenses required to resolve identity theft issues.īut there are some things you can do to help protect your information. If unchecked, unauthorized access to your credit file can affect your credit score and make it more difficult to get credit in the future. Learning that someone could have accessed and used your personal information is a frightening prospect. Whatever it was, you may have reason to believe that you’re the victim of identity theft or fraud. Maybe you received a fraud alert from your credit card company, or maybe you found a suspicious charge on your bank statement. You can request a credit freeze at all three of the major credit bureaus–Equifax, Experian®, and TransUnion–online, over the phone, or by mail. Freezing your credit can help block unauthorized access to your credit file.Ĭredit freezing may help prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name.
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