You check your pockets one more time. Your wallet isn’t there. You retrace your steps, call the last place you visited, and immediately begin thinking about your debit and credit cards. That’s the right first step. But if your wallet contained your driver’s license or other personal information, there may be another risk to consider.
Losing your wallet is just one of many situations that can leave you wondering whether your identity has been compromised. A stolen purse, a data breach, missing mail, or discovering that your personal information has been exposed can all raise the same question: What should you do next?
One step many people overlook is placing a credit freeze, or “security freeze,” on their credit reports. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends considering a credit freeze if you believe your personal information has been compromised. A credit freeze is free, doesn’t affect your credit score, and can make it much more difficult for someone else to open new credit accounts in your name.
In This Article
- Why a Credit Freeze Matters
- When You Should Consider Freezing Your Credit
- How to Freeze Your Credit
- A Simple Reminder
Why a Credit Freeze Matters
Most people know to lock their debit and credit cards after losing a wallet. That’s important—but it only protects the accounts you already have. A credit freeze protects against something different: someone using your personal information to open new credit accounts in your name.
When your credit is frozen, lenders generally can’t access your credit report when evaluating new credit applications. Without access to your credit report, it’s much more difficult for identity thieves to obtain new loans or credit cards using your identity.
Think of it this way: Locking your cards helps protect today’s money. Freezing your credit may help protect tomorrow’s identity.
TRB customers can use My Card Management in the TRB Mobile app to lock a missing debit card or report it lost or stolen.
Learn More about My Card Management
When You Should Consider Freezing Your Credit
A lost wallet is one example, but it’s far from the only one. You may want to consider freezing your credit if:
- Your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.
- Your personal information was exposed in a data breach.
- Your Social Security number or other sensitive information may have been compromised.
- Important financial mail has been stolen or gone missing.
- You believe someone may be attempting to use your identity.
How to Freeze Your Credit
A security freeze must be placed separately with each of the three major credit bureaus. The process is free, can typically be completed online in just a few minutes, and can be temporarily lifted whenever you need to apply for credit.
To place a credit freeze, visit:
You can also learn more about credit freezes, fraud alerts, and identity theft recovery through the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft resources.
A Simple Reminder
If you think your personal information may have been compromised, don’t wait until fraudulent accounts appear to take action.
A credit freeze is one of the simplest steps you can take to help protect your identity. It’s free and easy to unfreeze your credit when you need to apply for a new line or account, and it may help prevent someone else from opening new accounts in your name.
Access additional resources and practical lessons to help support you and safeguard your family at TRB's Fraud Prevention Resource Center.
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