Hoosiers can protect themselves from identity thieves by activating a credit freeze. Also known as a security freeze, it keeps new creditors from accessing your credit report without your permission. This will prevent an identity thief from opening a credit card or other account in your name, even if he or she has your Social Security number or other personal information.
There’s no cost to request or lift a credit freeze or request a new password or PIN. Freezes can be requested by using each credit agency’s online process or sending them a letter via certified mail.
Indiana also has a protected person law to guard the identities of children and others with clean credit histories. Identity thieves will often use their identities in order to commit fraud. Parents can use the “protected consumer security freeze” law to protect their children. They also need to contact the three credit bureaus to activate that level of protection.
Find more information, including contact information for the three credit monitoring services, online at http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/files/Security_Freeze2013_no_bground71414.pdf.
