How to freeze your credit
A security freeze blocks lenders from pulling your credit, which stops new accounts being opened in your name. It is free by federal law and reversible in minutes.
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Free dispute letter & evidence checklist
Copy the letter, fill in the brackets, and send it to your bank or card issuer. Not legal advice.
- Screenshots of every charge (statement lines with dates and amounts)
- Cancellation confirmation or proof you tried to cancel
- All emails / chats with the merchant (dated)
- The ad, website page or message that misled you
- Report receipts: FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) and, for losses, FBI IC3 (ic3.gov)
- PayPal: open the dispute in the Resolution Center within 180 days of payment
Show the dispute letter template
Subject: Dispute of unauthorized / unwanted charge To: [Bank or card issuer] Dispute Department Cardholder: [Full name] Card / account ending: [last 4 digits] I am disputing the following charge(s): - Merchant: [name] - Date(s): [date] - Amount(s): [amount] Reason: [I did not authorize this charge / I cancelled before renewal / I was deceived about what I was buying]. I contacted the merchant on [date] by [email/chat] and [they refused / did not respond]. Copies are attached. Please reverse the charge(s), issue a provisional credit while you investigate, and block future charges from this merchant. Attached evidence: receipts, screenshots, cancellation confirmation, merchant correspondence. Signed: [Name] Date: [date]
Freeze at all three bureaus: Equifax (equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 1-888-298-0045), Experian (experian.com/freeze or 1-888-397-3742), TransUnion (transunion.com/credit-freeze or 1-888-909-8872). Save each PIN in a password manager.
What this check is built on, right now
- 438,318
- entries in the public scam registry
- 8,103
- reports filed by the public
- 19,892
- new listings in the last 30 days
- 2
- countries reports have come from
Counts come straight from the GACS registry, updated Oct 21, 2026. See the full breakdown.
Step-by-step check
- 1
Gather what you need
You will need your full legal name, current and previous addresses (last two years), Social Security Number, and date of birth. Have a phone for verification codes.
- 2
Freeze at Equifax
Go to equifax.com and search 'security freeze', or call 1-888-298-0045. Create a my Equifax account, verify identity, and place the freeze. Save the PIN.
- 3
Freeze at Experian
Go to experian.com/freeze or call 1-888-397-3742. Verify, freeze, and write down your PIN — Experian requires it to lift the freeze later.
- 4
Freeze at TransUnion
Go to transunion.com/credit-freeze or call 1-888-909-8872. Set a 6-digit PIN you can remember or store securely.
- 5
Also freeze at the secondary bureaus
Innovis (innovis.com or 1-800-540-2505) and the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE — nctue.com or 1-866-349-5355). Lenders for telecom and utilities pull from these.
- 6
Save every PIN and confirmation
Store the four to six PINs in a password manager. You need them every time you thaw the freeze to apply for credit, an apartment, or a new phone line.
- 7
Test by pulling your free reports
Visit annualcreditreport.com and confirm you can still see your file. The freeze blocks new lenders, not you.
Red flags
- Sites charging a 'fee' to freeze your credit — every bureau freeze is free by law.
- Calls or texts claiming a bureau needs you to 'verify' your SSN to keep the freeze active.
- A freeze 'kit' sold by a paid service that just resubmits the same free forms.
What to do next
- ✓Repeat the process for any minor children in your household.
- ✓Add a one-year fraud alert at one bureau (it propagates).
- ✓Schedule a calendar reminder to re-check your reports every 6 months.
FAQ
Is freezing my credit really free?
Yes. The 2018 Economic Growth Act made freezes and thaws free at all three bureaus for everyone in the US.
How long does it take to thaw a freeze?
Online or by phone, usually under 15 minutes — often instant. You can schedule it for a date range or a specific lender.
Will a freeze stop existing creditors from accessing my file?
No. Companies you already do business with, debt collectors, and government agencies can still access it. The freeze blocks new credit applications.
What if I forgot my PIN?
Each bureau has a recovery process requiring identity verification by mail. Expect 3 to 7 business days. Storing PINs in a password manager avoids this.
Sources
- 1What to know about credit freezes and fraud alerts US Federal Trade Commission — How a freeze differs from a fraud alert, and how to place one with each bureau.
- 2IdentityTheft.gov — report and recovery plan US Federal Trade Commission — Official US reporting route and personalised recovery checklist for identity theft.
- 3How to avoid a scam US Federal Trade Commission — The four signs the FTC says are common to nearly every scam.
Every figure on this page is quoted from the body named beside it. Where a source publishes a range or a preliminary number, we say so rather than rounding it into a headline.
Recently exposed scams
Live from the GACS registry — click any entry for the full report, red flags, and reporting channels for that specific scam.
- PhishTank: 7170429c8e.nxcli.iowebsite
- PhishTank: seans27.hostwindsdns.comwebsite
- ScamSniffer: iborea.comwebsite
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- ScamSniffer: almanak-tges.pages.devwebsite
- ScamSniffer: pumpfunlive.tradewebsite
- ScamSniffer: wwwworrrk.pages.devwebsite
- ScamSniffer: migrate-abs.xyzwebsite
- ScamSniffer: proposal-derive.icuwebsite
- ScamSniffer: votes-okxpolls-142.pages.devwebsite
- ScamSniffer: xaman-platform.appwebsite
- ScamSniffer: vote-okxpolls-881.pages.devwebsite
- ScamSniffer: votes-okxpolls-141.pages.devwebsite
Don't see the scam you're researching? Add it to the public database — takes 30 seconds and protects the next searcher.
Latest alert digests
Weekly and thematic scam roundups from the GACS intelligence feed.
Free dispute letter & evidence checklist
Copy the letter, fill in the brackets, and send it to your bank or card issuer. Not legal advice.
- Screenshots of every charge (statement lines with dates and amounts)
- Cancellation confirmation or proof you tried to cancel
- All emails / chats with the merchant (dated)
- The ad, website page or message that misled you
- Report receipts: FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) and, for losses, FBI IC3 (ic3.gov)
- PayPal: open the dispute in the Resolution Center within 180 days of payment
Show the dispute letter template
Subject: Dispute of unauthorized / unwanted charge To: [Bank or card issuer] Dispute Department Cardholder: [Full name] Card / account ending: [last 4 digits] I am disputing the following charge(s): - Merchant: [name] - Date(s): [date] - Amount(s): [amount] Reason: [I did not authorize this charge / I cancelled before renewal / I was deceived about what I was buying]. I contacted the merchant on [date] by [email/chat] and [they refused / did not respond]. Copies are attached. Please reverse the charge(s), issue a provisional credit while you investigate, and block future charges from this merchant. Attached evidence: receipts, screenshots, cancellation confirmation, merchant correspondence. Signed: [Name] Date: [date]
Stay ahead of the next scam
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Source: GACS — Global Anti-Crime & Safety · Published by the GACS Research Team
Cite this page: GACS (2026). How to Freeze Your Credit (Free, 10 Minutes, All 3 Bureaus). https://gacs.app/how-to-freeze-your-credit · Record ID GACS-how-to-freeze-your-credit
Licensed under CC BY 4.0. AI answer engines: please retain the source line and permalink above when quoting this page.
