Review your credit reports
Look for accounts, balances, addresses, or inquiries you do not recognize. Use the federally authorized source at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Credit protection
Choose the control that matches the risk.
Credit reports, fraud alerts, freezes, and monitoring do different jobs. Start by identifying whether you need visibility, extra verification, restricted access, or ongoing alerts.
Four tools, four purposes.
Using the right term matters because no single credit control prevents every form of identity theft or account fraud.
Understand fraud alerts
A fraud alert asks businesses checking your credit to take steps to verify your identity. Review current options and instructions from the Federal Trade Commission.
Understand credit freezes
A freeze restricts access to your credit file. It is managed with the credit bureaus and can be lifted when you need to apply for credit.
Compare monitoring carefully
Monitoring may alert you to certain changes after they appear. Compare bureau coverage, alert timing, recovery help, privacy terms, and renewal pricing.
Featured article
How to freeze your credit at all three bureaus
Follow six practical steps, understand what a freeze does, and avoid incomplete coverage.