Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes
Americans now more than ever are looking into ways to secure their identity and credit information. Amerifund is here to help with our Identity Protection Video Series. In this video, Paige Hanson, Chief of Identity Education at LifeLock, details how to best protect your credit. She specifically details what fraud alerts and credit freezes are and their benefits.
An expert in her field, Paige shared valuable tips and tricks as to how to best protect your personal information and keep your credit safe. Amerifund takes protecting your personal information seriously, & we want you to have the tools to protect yourself too. Watch this 4-minute video to learn how to protect your personal information.
The Video
What Are Fraud Alerts & Credit Freezes?
A fraud alert is a red flag on your credit. By putting a fraud alert on your credit, you’re making it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name. When you have a fraud alert, businesses must verify your identity before they issue credit. This allows you to have more checks on your credit & it’s completely free.
A fraud alert is a red flag on your credit.
To get a fraud alert, you must contact one of the following 3 credit bureaus. The alert stays on your report for one year.
Equifax
Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
800-685-1111
Experian
Experian.com/help
888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
Transunion
TransUnion.com/credit-help
888-909-8872
A credit freeze prevents lenders from checking your credit and can last for as long as you want it to.
Credit freezes help control who has access to your credit. You can secure your credit with a credit freeze for as long as you want. And as Paige notes, you can thaw your credit for a specified amount of time for lenders to access your credit. Or you can lift the freeze forever.
A credit freeze prevents lenders from checking your credit and can last for as long as you want it to.
Credit freezes may have costs associated with them depending on the state you live in.
Extra Notes to Protect Your Information
Paige also noted that encrypted payments such as mobile payment methods (ie. Apple pay) are safer than paying with a credit card. This is because every transaction is encrypted, instead of stores being able to track your credit cards.
Encrypted payments such as mobile payment methods are safer than paying with a credit card.
Additionally, Paige noted that credit cards can be safer than debit cards. Debit cards give others the opportunity to get into your bank account whereas there is a barrier with credit cards. With a credit card, you have 60 days to report a false payment, but not with debit cards.
Closing Notes
If you’ve enjoyed this video series, or you have yet to watch all the videos in the series, stay tuned. This helpful Identity Protection Video Series resource features over 25 unique resources for you and your business!
You can watch all the videos in one place and download them. This is perfect for on-the-go viewing or employee training at your business’s next meeting. We also have transcripts for each video. It’s the ultimate free resource for business owners who value their identity protection. Download it for free below:
