 TITLE: Identity Theft Victim Assistance CONTENT: Place a Fraud Alert or Security Freeze\n--------------------------------------\nTo secure your credit reports and prevent unauthorized access to loans or credit in your name, you may choose to place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit file. Fraud alerts instruct lenders and credit issuers to verify your identity before processing any credit applications made in your name, while credit freezes block potential new creditors (and others) from accessing your credit file at all. Both services are free.\nYou can read more about the differences between the measures and when either might be appropriate on our blog, but here's an overview: END