Credit freeze and fraud alerts explained: the difference and how to place each
A credit freeze and a fraud alert are both free, but they work differently. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that during a freeze "nobody can open a new credit account in your name, including you." A fraud alert leaves your report visible to businesses and tells them "to check with you before opening a new credit account in your name." A freeze means contacting all three bureaus, an alert just one.
What is the difference between a credit freeze and a fraud alert?
A freeze stops new credit accounts, yours included. An alert adds a check. In the FTC wording, "Fraud alerts make lenders verify your identity before they grant new credit in your name." Usually a business contacts you first to make sure the person trying to open the account is really you. Unlike a freeze, an alert does not "prevent businesses from seeing your credit report."
You do not have to pick only one. The FTC says: "Even if you already have a credit freeze in place, you can also place a fraud alert." The table lists the FTC details.
| Tool | Who can place one | How long it lasts | How to place it | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit freeze | Anyone, for any reason, even if their identity has not been stolen | Until you lift it | Contact all three bureaus | Free |
| Initial fraud alert | Anyone who is or suspects they may be affected by identity theft | One year, and you can renew it | Contact one bureau | Free |
| Extended fraud alert | People who have experienced identity theft and have completed an FTC identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov or filed a police report | Seven years, with a choice to renew | Contact one bureau | Free |
| Active duty alert | Active duty servicemembers | One year, then a choice to renew for the length of your deployment | Contact one bureau | Free |
How to freeze your credit and lift the freeze
You do not have to wait for a data breach or for an identity thief to misuse your information. The FTC puts it simply: "Anyone can do it, any time." It also says a freeze does not affect your credit score.
- Place it. Contact all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- Lift it for a while. If you need to apply for new credit or a job, rent an apartment or buy insurance, you can temporarily lift the freeze and put it back when you are done.
- Lift only what is needed. The FTC calls it a good idea to "identify which bureau a lender will use to check your credit and just lift the freeze at that one bureau," then put the freeze back once the need for a credit check passes.
Is a credit freeze free? Yes. The FTC says there is "no cost to place or lift a credit freeze."
How to place a fraud alert
For each of the three alerts, you contact one bureau: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. You do not have to contact all three, because the bureau you reach "must tell the other two" to place the alert. Some details differ by type:
- Initial alert: when you place it, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three bureaus.
- Extended alert: it also requires the bureaus to take you off their marketing lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for five years, unless you ask them not to. To renew it, you have to resubmit your FTC identity theft report or police report.
- Active duty alert: it takes you off those same lists for two years, unless you ask them not to.
Checking your credit reports
The FTC says accounts in your name that you do not recognize could be a sign of identity theft. The USAGov page on getting a credit report says that AnnualCreditReport.com is "the only website authorized by the federal government to issue free, annual credit reports" from the three bureaus. A related page here covers protecting a Social Security number.
What is not covered or depends on the situation
The FTC says there are three types of alerts and "which is best depends on your situation and needs." If your child is under 16, it says you can request a free freeze that stays in place until you tell the bureaus to remove it. It also says: "The process for getting a freeze for a minor is different than getting one for an adult." The bureaus give specific instructions on their own sites. The cited pages do not say how to end a fraud alert before it runs out.
The picture on this page is only an illustration: an invented figure in a blue parka, seen from behind, stands on a snowy shore with a wooden pole and looks across a partly frozen lake.
Where to look next
For the full wording, see the FTC page on credit freezes and fraud alerts, and if you think someone stole your identity, its page on identity theft explains how to report it and get a free personal recovery plan.
Scope of this page
This page is general information drawn from the cited official pages. It does not assess anyone's case, and a question about a personal situation belongs with an independent attorney.
VisaNow.AI is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This page is general information taken from official government pages; it does not assess anyone's case. An attorney-client relationship arises only with an independent attorney. Check the official pages for current details.
Information current as of 2026-10-30