001 - Freeze Your Credit Before You Need To

May 30

“Identity theft is easier to prevent than fix. Freezing your credit with the three major credit bureaus stops criminals from opening accounts in your name. It’s free, reversible, and one of the best protections available for everyday people.”

Identity theft can happen to anyone—but one of the most effective ways to stop criminals from opening new accounts in your name is completely free.

Imagine walking out to your car only to find the door wide open and your glovebox rifled through. That sinking feeling is exactly what identity theft feels like—except it happens entirely in the digital dark, and you usually don’t find out until weeks later when a collection agency calls about a random credit card you never opened.

Luckily, there is a digital equivalent to locking your car doors, and it’s completely free: freezing your credit.

What is a Credit Freeze?

Think of your credit report like a VIP lounge. When someone tries to open a new credit card, buy a car, or get a loan in your name, the bank tries to look at your credit report to see if you're trustworthy. If your credit is frozen, the door is locked. The bank gets a "no entry" response, and the identity thief gets rejected on the spot.

The best part? It doesn’t affect your current credit cards, it doesn't hurt your credit score, and you can "thaw" it in five minutes whenever you actually want to apply for something.

How to Do It Yourself

You don't need a degree in computer science to lock things down. You just need to spend about 15 minutes visiting the websites of the three major credit bureaus.

Here is your quick action plan:

Equifax: Go to their official site and look for "Freeze Today."
Experian: Navigate to their Credit Freeze section.
TransUnion: Find their Credit Freeze page.

For each one, you will create a secure account, fill out some basic personal information to prove you are you, and hit "Freeze."

Pro Tip: Make sure to write down the usernames, passwords, or PINs you create for each bureau. Keep them in a safe place. When you want to buy a new phone plan or apply for a mortgage in the future, you’ll just log back in and temporarily lift the freeze.

Don't wait for a data breach notification to react. Lock the door today!

What Now

Here is a five-step recovery action plan based on guidance from federal consumer protection authorities:

Secure Compromised Accounts: Immediately contact the fraud department of any bank, credit card issuer, or company where you know or suspect unauthorized activity. Instruct them to close or freeze those accounts, and immediately update your passwords, PINs, and login credentials.
Report the Theft Formally: File an official identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov. This system will generate a personal recovery plan and a formal FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, which serves as vital proof to creditors that your information was stolen.
Contact Local Law Enforcement: Go to your local police department to file a criminal report. Bring a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, a photo ID, and any documentation of the fraud. Combine the police report with your affidavit to create an official Identity Theft Report, which grants you expanded legal rights to dispute fraudulent debts.
Place a Fraud Alert or Extended Freeze: Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a free, one-year fraud alert on your credit report, which forces businesses to verify your identity before granting new credit. (The bureau you contact is legally required to notify the other two). If you have a police report, you can upgrade this to an extended fraud alert lasting seven years.
Dispute Fraudulent Transactions: Review your free credit reports thoroughly. Send copies of your official Identity Theft Report and specific dispute letters to both the credit bureaus and the billing departments of the companies where the fake accounts were opened to block the fraudulent data from destroying your credit history.

Local Resources

Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program (CCVLP)
Website: https://www.ccvlp.org
Phone: (360) 695-5313
Provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income Clark County residents, including help with debt, consumer issues, and identity-theft-related legal problems.
Northwest Justice Project (CLEAR Hotline)
Website: https://nwjustice.org
Phone: (888) 201-1014
Offers free legal advice and assistance to qualifying Washington residents, including consumer protection and fraud-related matters.
Washington State Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division
Website: https://www.atg.wa.gov/consumer-protection
Phone: (800) 551-4636
Accepts consumer complaints, investigates unfair business practices, and provides fraud and scam resources for Washington residents.
Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington
Website: https://www.helpingelders.org
Phone: (360) 735-5720
Connects older adults and caregivers with support services and can help identify resources when financial exploitation or fraud is suspected.
211info (Southwest Washington Resource Navigation)
Website: https://www.211info.org
Phone: 211
Provides referrals to local nonprofit, legal, financial, housing, and crisis-support organizations throughout Clark County.