Someone tried to open a credit card in my maiden name on Black Friday at a sporting goods store. Lifelock is damned expensive but I’m grateful now that they are helping me stop this from getting approved. Not sure what to do next to stop this happening again though. Any advice? 😒🤬
@MotherDucker Yes, freeze your credit with all 3 (at least I think there are 3?) right away.
@HopeSeeker @MotherDucker my profile starts locked. Not frozen.
I put a fraud alert on my credit. You only have to file with one credit bureau and they report it to the other two. Not as good as a freeze but easier to apply and remove.
A freeze is more effective but thawing takes longer. That is important for impulsive people like me. 😁
@KGinKS @MotherDucker You can suspend a freeze nearly instantaneously. The downside with a freeze is you need to do it with all three agencies. It doesn't take long, though.
File a police report. Contact each of the three credit bureaus and put a fraud alert on each. With a police report, they can do seven years. Before issuing credit, they will attempt to contact you first at your primary number. Cell is best. That way -you- can still open lines of credit, but the bad guys can’t. It slows the process down a little, but it’s absolutely worth it!
@amarand @MotherDucker
This sounds like excellent advice!
@MotherDucker
you can always order a 'Freeze' to all three credit reporting agencies and that way no one can apply. when you need to get credit just un-freeze you can apply then when you got it just re-freeze your accounts from then on. I do that and a 'freeze' account is free but have to pay for a 'Lock' your account.
@MotherDucker Freeze your credit reports.