Short answer
A fraud alert tells businesses to verify your identity before opening new credit but still lets them see your report; one call covers all three bureaus. A credit freeze blocks access to your report for new credit until you lift it and must be placed at each bureau. Both are free.
Both tools are free under federal law (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1) and both can help prevent new accounts in your name. They work differently.
Fraud alert
- What it does: Requires businesses to take steps to verify your identity before extending new credit. The FTC notes that, unlike a freeze, a fraud alert does not prevent businesses from seeing your report.
- How to place: Contact one nationwide bureau; it must notify the other two.
- Who can get one: An initial alert is available to anyone who in good faith suspects they are, or are about to become, a victim of fraud or identity theft. An extended alert requires an identity theft report.
- Duration: Initial alert 1 year; extended alert 7 years; active duty alert for servicemembers 1 year.
Credit freeze (security freeze)
- What it does: Prohibits the bureau from releasing your report for most new credit purposes until you lift it, which stops most new accounts, including ones you want, until you temporarily lift or remove it.
- How to place: Contact each of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Who can get one: The FTC says anyone can freeze their credit, for any reason, even without identity theft.
- Duration: Stays until you remove it.
- Speed: A bureau must place a freeze within 1 business day of a phone or online request and lift it within 1 hour of a phone or online request (3 business days for mail requests).
Which to choose
- A freeze offers stronger protection if you are not planning to apply for credit soon. The FTC says a freeze does not affect your credit score.
- A fraud alert is easier if you are actively applying for credit and want lenders to verify it is you.
- Many identity theft victims use both.
Neither tool removes fraudulent accounts already on your report. For that, dispute them or request an identity theft block. See identity theft and your credit report.
Related
Sources
- FTC — What To Know About Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1 — Identity theft prevention; fraud alerts and security freezes (Cornell LII)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.