Identity Theft & Freezing Your Credit | How To Freeze Your Credit (Experian)

[@DiamondNestEgg]

Many of you asked for this credit freezing video in February & I actually taped this pre-Silicon-Valley-Bank meltdown, but am only now getting around to sharing it with all of you. Enjoy & thanks for your patience! ---------- Thanks for visiting our personal finance channel! We hope this content will help fast-track your financial journey! Everyone's financial journey is different. Please note that: 1) there are questions/ comments which I will not be able to answer without fully understanding your financial, personal & other circumstances & 2) we will not ask you to call us or send us money in the comments on this channel or any of our other social media accounts, so if you see comment(s) along those lines, it is most likely spam - PLEASE DO NOT ENGAGE WITH SPAMMERS OR GIVE OUT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. >> WATCH NEXT

[@bluebird4424]

do you have to do this for each individual credit bureau in order to freeze your credit?

[@sneakypeo]

This is important, everyone should freeze all 3. Unfreeze when needed

[@rubbersoulboy]

This is much better than paying for identity theft protection.

[@savvystacker9552]

Hi Jen! I have an extended fraud alert at all 3 credit reporting agencies. I thought that would suffice. However, over the weekend I was notified by email via my credit monitoring service (through my bank) that I had a new inquiry on my credit report. I had not applied for any credit, so I knew something was amiss. Turns out someone applied for a credit card in my name (with my OWN bank, to boot). Thank you so much for this video! I am going to put a freeze on all 3 of my credit reports. The stress of dealing with my (identity) information being compromised and/or fraudsters attempting to use it, over and over again, the last 10 years has taken its toll. I need the peace of mind. Thank you for keeping us informed, and for continuing to provide crucial education that all can benefit from.

[@DiamondNestEgg]

OMG - thanks for sharing. I’ll try to post a community alert in the next few days. I’m glad you caught this in time!

[@savvystacker9552]

@@DiamondNestEgg You're welcome. Thank you! If not for the credit monitoring, I might not have caught it at all.

[@cindyfendler6315]

Thank you so much for the great information! Someone tried to file a tax return and another person opened up a credit card by using my info a few years ago so I froze my credit on all 3 agencies. I would have never known how to unfreeze it without upgrading by just clicking on the experian logo. Thanks for walking us through all of the steps. I really appreciate all of the great info that you share on your videos!

[@SpaceClick]

Unfortunately, I don't think freezing your credit report at these agencies does anything to prevent someone from using your SSN to file a federal tax return, although I have heard that it may prevent some state tax returns from being accepted electronically (even from you), but I don't know much about that.

[@cindyfendler6315]

@@SpaceClick I’ve taken other preventive measures as well for the tax returns. The IRS sends me an Identity Protection Number (IP PIN) number every year now that I use whenever I file a return. It prevents someone else from filing a tax return using my SSN. The PIN is known only to me and the IRS. I haven’t been having any problems filing my state return electronically, even with the freeze on the credit reporting agencies.

[@pam5414]

As a victim of identity theft, despite all 3 credit bureaus being frozen, (SSN was used fraudently, )found out can freeze SSN on MySocial Security…. Easy to unfreeze when looking for a job Get a PIN with IRS for tax filing

[@SteveWaage]

Jennifer that was a lot of work on your part for us... bless your soul! Thank you.

[@ppumpkin3282]

Here's an important world of advice. If you freeze you account usually you will get a "pin" to freeze/unfreeze. Don't lose your pin. The rules for reissuing pins are pretty strict. You can'd do it over the phone or via the internet. You usually have to make a written request and wait for a new pin in the mail.

[@vivisimonvi]

An important thing more people should know is that you should be using your credit card instead of your debit card. Regarding fraud, if you have fraudulent charges on your debit card, YOU have to fight to get YOUR money back but with a credit card, the BANK will fight to get THEIR money back. This is also assuming you never carry a credit card balance.

[@DiamondNestEgg]

Thanks for sharing

[@fir212]

I didn't know that

[@aliciahawkins7040]

Thanks so much for sharing this "how to guide". This has been hugely helpful! Setting up these credit freezes now.

[@boblyn4402]

Thank you.This reminder really hit home, since I was just hit with credit card fraud. Luckily my bank caught it and denied every attempted charge. It was really very easy. Now to the other 2.👍

[@taloweryus]

Thanks, Jenn. Another super useful video. I just followed along as you went through the steps, and, voila, my credit is now frozen with experian. I feel safer already! Next stop equifax and transunion. Can't wait!

[@DiamondNestEgg]

Equifax is coming tomorrow

[@justice-f9r]

Your content and explanation are awsome. Thank you so much!!

[@RogerArm231]

Thanks!

[@michaelsena6116]

Thanks J, great video. one note on Experian after setting up. It seems compared to your video when logging back in to manage a freeze you need to navigate to the Security Freeze page. it looks like the only way to do that is by going to Help Center and clicking on "Manage security freeze" under quick actions. Does anyone know of another navigation path?

[@danieladimitrova5636]

Thank you so much for this informative and very helpful video. I really appreciate that you share this information.

[@leticiamartinez3106]

It is really hard, we are the victims if fraud and identity theft. We froze our credit and they were still able to call and unfreeze it. They have to have better and more restricted laws. We file a police report, file a report with the FTC. We are not getting any help and we are still being targeted.

[@SunvalleyMetaphysical]

Thanks for the good explaination. I had to establish a credit freeze back during covid due to idenity theft. Someone trying to sign up for unemployment insurance using my name and id. I want to buy a car over the next 1-2 years and will need to temp unfreeze.

[@DiamondNestEgg]

Thanks for sharing

[@barbarafallin2038]

Someone tried to file for unemployement ,in no my name as well and they were denied

[@cesarebeccaria7641]

Thanks for this clarification. I didn't really know the difference between a freeze and lock. I have frozen access to all three reporting agencies. They did imply there would be a charge for unfreezing, although the one time we unfroze one agency's report for a Chase Amazon Visa, there was no charge.

[@justmyopinion4now]

Froze my credit and hubby's about 15 years ago due to possible fraud. I received a letter in the mail, someone was trying to open an account at Walmart in my name but thankfully they were denied. Several insurance companies and several other companies advised that our personal information was compromised so we did that out of an abundance of caution. At that time it was $30 for each company freeze. Probably should create online accounts now... back then you had to do it on the phone..

[@DiamondNestEgg]

Thanks for sharing Tina

[@karonsanchez3551]

How can I find out if I have anything in my in my

[@mfh9780]

Excellent! Thanks for this video.

[@martywilliard]

Great video! Thank you.

[@np4191]

Freezes are very good to have in place. But you should aslo explain idenity the importance of have identity protection in place as well. Also, the benefit of insurance with idenity protection. Freezes do not protect against idenity theft.

[@amir2512]

It is important to note that if you place a security freeze through Experian, only your Experian credit file will be frozen, and Experian does not have the ability to freeze your TransUnion or Equifax credit files.

[@SpaceClick]

Yes, unlike a fraud alert which IS distributed to the other two agencies when you notify one of them.

[@irenesteen9243]

sorry, jennifer, this is something else. how do you view the marcus cd offer of 5.05% for 10 month????

[@DiamondNestEgg]

Stay tuned Irene

[@dwainewhitley2227]

what about links to the other two agencies?

[@Wanitaok]

Is there any way to not agree to everything in the details before clicking submit and continue? Like to opt out of these notifications: "Notify me of other products and services that may be available to me through ECS or through unaffiliated third parties. • Notify me of credit opportunities and advertised credit offers." I don't want the elderly I'm helping to have to sift through more notifications since their inability to recognize fake vs real notifications is why their credit is at risk in the first place. Or is there a way to opt out after submitting? Thank you!

[@BruceReitman]

I need to know how to put a freeze on

[@adamsd6638]

Thank you

[@richardc2333]

As I understand it, auto insurance (and maybe others like homeowners insurance companies) check your credit each renewal as a part of underwriting. Is there a reasonable (i.e. free) way to allow this while your credit is frozen and/or otherwise protect yourself from bad actors?

[@mkbrown3902]

Thank you so much.

[@GCW23]

How long do I need to unfreeze my account when I am applying for a new credit card? How many days?

[@SpaceClick]

They are required by law to lift the freeze within an hour of you requesting it, but if you do it online, it should be done immediately. As for how long you need to keep it unfrozen, I guess that is dependent on the CC company and when they pull your report. You would probably have to ask them, or you can pull your own credit report and see if they made an inquiry.

[@traxmom]

Can’t you freeze your credit and also place a fraud alert? I feel like I’ve done this in the past.

[@SpaceClick]

Yes you can. A fraud alert only needs to be reported to one agency, they are required by law to notify the other two agencies and they will each put the alert on your account at the corresponding agency. It is usually only for 1 year (which you can renew every year), but you can also get an extended alert for 7 years if you are a victim of identity theft. I believe there are also extended alerts for those in the military.

[@kellylee514]

Don’t we have to freeze it with the other 2 credit places? And isn’t there an app that you can unfreeze and freeze again?

[@DiamondNestEgg]

Yes, you have to freeze with each credit reporting company. I'm not sure about the app though.

[@michaelminauro4180]

Good stuff

[@jaeminkim7406]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@makeyourlifeeasier5794]

Wish I could've froze my ex-wife's credit...before she was my EX-wife.

[@DiamondNestEgg]

LOL!

[@JC-li8kk]

Opening a checking account in my name...for purposes of laundering money/tax evasion? Does this mean there’s a chance I’m a millionaire & don’t even know it? Lol.

[@SpaceClick]

Note that the big three credit reporting agencies are usually used when opening a new line of credit (credit card or loan). For a savings/checking account, they often use a different agency such as Chex Systems (who also offer the ability to freeze your report).

[@davidpowell3347]

Could get the Treasury Police showing up at your door.