Credit Freeze
Also known as: security freeze, credit lock
A free service that blocks new creditors from accessing your credit report, preventing thieves from opening accounts in your name even if they have your personal details.
A credit freeze is the single most effective defense against identity theft for US residents. When you freeze your credit at all three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), lenders cannot pull your credit report — which means they cannot approve new credit cards, loans, or accounts opened in your name by a thief. Even with your name, date of birth, and Social Security Number, a fraudster cannot complete the application.
A credit freeze is free by US federal law and takes about 5 minutes per bureau. You can lift the freeze temporarily whenever you need to apply for credit yourself, then re-freeze when finished. It does not affect your credit score, your existing accounts, or your ability to use your current cards.
In India, there is no direct equivalent to a US credit freeze. The closest protection is locking your Aadhaar biometrics in the mAadhaar app, which blocks anyone from authenticating financial transactions using your fingerprint or iris.