We support reforms to the financial marketplace to curb bad practices by banks and lenders.
Security Freeze
There are more than eight million new victims of identity theft each year in the U.S.
Many of these victims find that crooks have used stolen personal information like Social Security numbers to open new accounts in their victim’s name. A security freeze gives consumers the choice to “freeze” or lock access to their credit file against anyone trying to open up a new account or to get new credit in their name. For more information, see: Frequently Asked Questions about the security freeze. To help you decide if getting a security freeze is right for you, click here (PDF).
For the Consumers Union’s Guide to Security Freeze Protection, click here.
If you are you experiencing problems with your security freeze, click here.
When a security freeze is in place at all three major credit bureaus, an identity thief cannot open a new account because the potential creditor or seller of services will not be able to check the credit file. When the consumer is applying for credit, he or she can lift the freeze temporarily using a PIN so legitimate applications for credit or services can be processed.
Publications
- GAO Testimony on Identity Theft before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives
GAO was asked to testify on how the loss of personally identifiable information contributes to identity theft. This testimony summarizes (1) the problem of identity theft; (2) steps taken at the federal, state, and local level to prevent potential identity theft; and (3) vulnerabilities that remain to protecting personally identifiable information, including in federal information systems.
- Identity Theft
Was your personal information stolen and used fraudulently?
- Security Freeze
Prevent the most costly and difficult to detect form of identity theft ― false new accounts opened in your name. Find out if your state offers stronger protection from identity theft.
- Model State Clean Credit and Identity Theft Protection Act
The State Clean Credit and Identity Theft Protection Act offers specific, workable provisions that state legislatures can adopt to reduce the risk of identity theft and to give consumers tools to prevent some of the harm from identity theft. The model law offers types of protections and of these that have actually been adopted by state legislatures. This model law was prepared by CU and the State PIRGs.
- Things to Consider When Deciding Whether to Place a Security Freeze
You’ve been reading and hearing about the “security freeze” to stop new account identity theft. Should you get a security freeze? Here is some information from Consumers Union about this personal choice.
- Are you experiencing problems with your security freeze?
Are you experiencing problems with your security freeze? If you need to speak with a representative at the three major credit reporting agencies regarding a problem with your security freeze, please call them at these phone numbers: Equifax 800-846-5279 TransUnion 888-909-8872 Experian 800-821-8805 If you are still experiencing problems with obtaining information about your credit Continue Reading
- Frequently asked questions about security freeze
Credit card companies, merchants, other businesses, and government entities do not always adequately safeguard consumers’ private financial information.
- Wyoming
Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Note: Requires electronic and telephone methods to lift, imposes the 15 minute lift time frame starting September 1, 2008.
Effective date of law: July 1, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Wyoming’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Wyoming’s security freeze law - Wisconsin
Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: No fee for an “individual who submits evidence satisfactory to the CRAs that the individual made a report to a law enforcement agency.” All others pay $10 to place, temporarily lift, or remove the freeze altogether.
Effective date of law: January 1, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Wisconsin’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Wisconsin’s security freeze law - West Virginia
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $5 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Effective date of the law: July 2, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of West Virginia’s security freeze law
Instructions for using West Virginia’s security freeze law
Press Releases
- Alaska governor signs strong new ID theft law
New law includes toughest restrictions on collection and sale of Social Security numbers in the U.S.
- CU says Social Security numbers need protection
Widespread use and availability of Social Security numbers puts Americans at risk of ID theft
- FTC: 8.3 million identity theft victims in U.S.
Report shows need for tougher identity theft protections
- TransUnion offering security freeze nationwide
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 TransUnion to Offer Powerful Identity Theft Tool to Consumers in All 50 States Consumer groups call on Experian and Equifax to meet or exceed TransUnion‘s plan. SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Starting on October 15, TransUnion will begin offering consumers in all 50 states the ability to freeze access to their credit Continue Reading
- CU praises Senate Identity theft legislation
Bill requires institutions to notify consumers when personal information is lost or stolen.
- House bill provides key protections against identity theft
Bill requires companies to protect information, gives consumers new protections
- Proposed AZ identity theft safeguard too costly for consumers
CU urges lawmakers to make credit security freeze more affordable for consumers
- CU teams up with Montana Attorney General on ID theft protection
Lawmakers urged to give consumers the right to freeze credit files.
- NJ Governor signs ID theft protections into law
New Jersey consumers get some of the toughest safeguards in the nation
- Connecticut Governor signs identity theft bill into law
Law requires notice of data security breaches and gives consumers the right to freeze credit files.
Blog Posts
- Consumers Union Activist passes strong ID Freeze law
Congratulations to Jaimee Knapp and Nebraska for passing the Security Freeze Enhancement bill into law!
Without Jaimee Napp, Nebraskans probably wouldn’t have the identity theft protections they have today. She came to Consumers Union only a few years ago as an identity theft victim motivated to make change. Since then, she has set up Identity Theft Action Council of Nebraska and has brought awareness to legislators, media and the public. - To Catch An Identity Thief…For Free
Chances are, you’ve been offered an identity theft service by your credit card company or bank, or seen an ad during a baseball game, or bombarded with offerings to prevent identity theft from happening to you just about everywhere you go…and of course, for a fee. But do these services actually work, and what exactly do they do? Consumer Federation of America has a new report, “To Catch a Thief: Are Identity Theft Services Worth the Cost?” to help answer these important questions.
- Nebraska Identity Theft Bill Advances
GUEST POST by Jaimee Napp, Executive Director of Identity Theft Action Council of Nebraska:
Recently, the Nebraska Unicameral unanimously gave its first round approval to a security freeze enhancement bill (LB 177). In 2007, Nebraska passed The Credit Report Protection Act allowing all Nebraska consumers to freeze their credit.
- What the Postal Service and the FTC didn’t say about ID theft
Money Mom and many of her colleagues at Consumers Union got a brochure in the mail this past week from the Postal Service warning about identity theft. The brochure is from the Federal Trade Commission and tells consumers how to “Deter, Detect and Defend” themselves from identity thieves… with one glaring oversight: no information on how to place a security freeze.
- Experian Steps Up
On Thursday Oct 4th Experian became the last of the Big Three credit reporting agencies to announce, in a press release, that the company would offer the security freeze (the most effective tool in fighting new account fraud) to all consumers nationwide, DC and in the US territories. Experian’s press release stated that the company would begin the program on November 1st of 2007.
- Tell TransUnion, Experian and Equifax you deserve the best
This may be the perfect opportunity for consumers to make an impact and obtain more control over their credit files and identities through a low-cost, easy to use security freeze.
- Security Freeze for ALL
TransUnion announced yesterday that they will be extending the security freeze to all consumers in about a month. Beginning October 15, 2007, TransUnion will offer the security freeze for no cost to identity theft victims and for $10 for non identity theft victims in states that do not yet have a security freeze law on the books.
- Consumer Reports Poll Finds 89% of Americans Want Lawmakers to Restrict the Use of SSNs
If you’ve been concerned about the widespread use of your SSN, you’re not alone. A recent Consumer Reports Poll has found that 89 Percent of Americans Want Lawmakers to Restrict the Use of Social Security Numbers, and that Americans are routinely asked for Social Security Numbers by businesses
and government agencies, fueling concerns about identity theft. - How Many Freeze States Are There Now?
Many state legislatures have either wrapped up, or are in the process of winding down. If your state did not yet offer the security freeze, you may be in luck as a number of states have passed legislation to provide you with this preventative identity theft tool.
- A story behind a security freeze law
I’ve reported that 35 states plus the District of Columbia have passed security freeze, or credit freeze legislation. But what happens behind closed doors? What’s the story? Who are the players? The story of how an individual in Delaware took the credit freeze issue up and built up a massive coalition against big bucks to pass a law in his state recently ran in the Washington Post.
News Articles
- Montanans locking credit reports Source: Helena Independent Record (Tuesday November 6, 2007)
More and more consumers are taking advantage of security freeze protection
- Consumers score the right to freeze credit Source: USA Today (Friday September 21, 2007)
TransUnion announces it will offer the security freeze in all 50 states
- Wisconsin security freeze starts January 1 Source: Wisconsin State Journal (Saturday December 23, 2006)
Wisconsin consumers will have a new tool for fending off identity theft.
- Guest Opinion: Have you had your identity stolen yet? Source: Billings Gazette (Saturday September 16, 2006)
Montana consumers will have a way to stop thieves from opening fraudulent accounts using stolen information if state lawmakers pass a security freeze law.
- Anti-ID theft measure lets consumers freeze credit accounts Source: Arizona Daily Star (Saturday March 11, 2006)
Consumers Union says Arizonans would pay too much for the proposed “security freeze.”
- Editorial: Credit protection Source: St. Petersburg Times (Tuesday January 17, 2006)
The Florida state legislature should create an optional security freeze so Floridians can protect themselves against identity theft and credit card fraud.
- Connecticut Governor signs ID theft law Source: Insurance Journal (Sunday July 10, 2005)
Under a new law signed by Governor M. Jodi Rell, consumers in Connecticut will have the right to put a security freeze on their credit files to prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their names.
- States scramble to protect data Source: Washington Post (Saturday April 9, 2005)
Lawmakers in numerous states around the country are considering bills to give consumers the right to put a security freeze on their credit files to keep identity thieves from opening new accounts in their names.
- Editorial: Freeze identity theft Source: Seattle Times (Tuesday March 15, 2005)
The Seattle Times editorializes in favor of legislation to allow Washington State residents to put a security freeze on their credit files to thwart identity thieves.
Worried about retirement?
The stock market has been unusually volatile, plunging hundreds of points, creeping back, only to plunge again. It is hard to stay disciplined about saving when every dime you’ve invested can evaporate in a day.
What is your biggest concern about your own retirement? We want to hear from you.
Where to complain
Online, by mail, phone or fax... Agencies need to hear from you!