How to Freeze Your Parent's Credit to Prevent Identity Theft

Why Credit Freezes Are Non-Negotiable for Aging Parents

Adults over 60 lost $7.74 billion to fraud in 2025 alone — a 59% increase from the prior year, according to FBI elder fraud data. A significant portion of that loss starts with identity theft: a scammer opens a credit card or loan in your parent's name using stolen personal information, and by the time anyone notices, the damage is done.

A credit freeze is the single most effective defense against new-account fraud. It blocks lenders from pulling your parent's credit report, which means no one — including your parent — can open new credit accounts until the freeze is temporarily or permanently lifted. It costs nothing, takes about 30 minutes total across three bureaus, and requires zero ongoing maintenance.

Credit Freeze vs. Credit Lock — Which One?

Both block credit inquiries, but they work differently.

A credit freeze is federally mandated under the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018. All three bureaus must offer it free, and they must honor lift requests within one hour for phone/online requests. It's a legal right, not a product.

A credit lock is a proprietary product offered by each bureau, often bundled with paid monitoring subscriptions. Some bureaus offer a free lock tier, but the terms vary and they're governed by the bureau's contract rather than federal law.

For an aging parent, the freeze is the better choice. It has the force of law behind it, it's permanently free, and it doesn't require remembering to cancel a subscription. The lock's main advantage — instant on/off via a mobile app — matters less for someone who isn't regularly applying for new credit.

How to Place Freezes at All Three Bureaus

You need to freeze at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately. A freeze at one bureau doesn't affect the others, and lenders can pull reports from any of them.

What You'll Need

If your parent is placing the freeze themselves (with your help), they'll need their Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and the ability to answer identity verification questions (previous addresses, old car loans, etc.).

If you're acting under a durable power of attorney, each bureau has a different process for third-party freeze requests — generally requiring a mailed copy of the POA, your parent's identifying information, and your own identification. Phone representatives can walk you through the specific documents needed.

Equifax

Online at equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/ or by phone at 1-800-349-9960. The online process takes about five minutes if your parent can answer the identity verification questions. Equifax issues a PIN that you'll need to lift the freeze later — store this in a password manager, not on paper.

Experian

Online at experian.com/freeze or by phone at 1-888-397-3742. Experian uses the account login (username and password) rather than a PIN to manage freezes. Create the account using an email address you can access, and save the credentials in your parent's password vault.

TransUnion

Online at transunion.com/credit-freeze or by phone at 1-888-909-8872. TransUnion also uses an account-based system rather than a PIN. Same advice: create the account, save the credentials.

By Mail (When Online Doesn't Work)

If your parent can't pass the online identity verification — common for seniors who've had limited recent credit activity — you can request a freeze by mail. Send a letter to each bureau with your parent's full name, Social Security number, date of birth, current and previous addresses (last two years), and a copy of a government-issued ID. If you're acting under POA, include a copy of the executed POA document.

When You Need to Temporarily Lift the Freeze

Legitimate reasons to lift a freeze include applying for a new insurance policy, setting up a new utility account, or running a background check for a home care aide. You can lift a freeze temporarily (for a specific creditor or for a set number of days) or permanently.

Online and phone lift requests must be honored within one hour under federal law. Mail requests take up to three business days.

A temporary lift for a specific creditor is better than a full thaw — it minimizes the window of vulnerability and avoids having to remember to re-freeze afterward.

Don't Forget These Extra Steps

Freeze ChexSystems too. ChexSystems is the reporting agency for bank accounts. Freezing it prevents someone from opening a bank account in your parent's name. Online at chexsystems.com or by phone at 1-800-428-9623.

Opt out of prescreened credit offers. Those "you're pre-approved" mailers are a goldmine for scammers who intercept your parent's mail. Opt out permanently at optoutprescreen.com or by calling 1-888-567-8688.

Set up fraud alerts as a complement, not a replacement. A fraud alert requires creditors to verify identity before opening accounts, but it doesn't block them the way a freeze does. An initial fraud alert lasts one year and can be set with a single bureau (which must share it with the other two). An extended fraud alert lasts seven years but requires an FTC identity theft report.

Integrating This Into Your Parent's Digital Security Plan

A credit freeze is one piece of the identity protection layer. The full stack includes freezing credit at all four agencies, locking down email accounts with two-factor authentication, configuring platform legacy settings (Google Inactive Account Manager, Apple Legacy Contact), and setting up transaction monitoring alerts on bank and investment accounts.

The Managing a Parent's Digital Life toolkit includes a device security hardening checklist that covers credit freezes alongside phone security, email protection, and scam prevention — everything in one structured workflow so nothing gets missed.

The 30-Minute Version

Set aside half an hour with your parent's Social Security number and a device. Hit all three bureau websites, place the freezes, save the PINs and account credentials in a password manager, then add ChexSystems and the prescreened offer opt-out. Your parent's credit profile goes dark to fraudsters — permanently, at zero cost.