Using the Internet Safely For Seniors

Figure 13-6

Freeze Your Credit

You may hear the terms security, credit freeze,and fraud alert. Here’s

what they mean:

A security or credit freezeis a request to a credit bureau to stop sharing

your credit file with potential creditors or insurance companies. You,

too, can’t open new credit while a freeze is in place. Individuals can

request that the credit bureau temporarily lift the freeze for the pur-

pose of obtaining new credit, although there may be a fee involved to

do so. A freeze is not 100 percent safe because some creditors issue

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Part III: Protecting Your Wealth and Your Health