 TITLE: Can You Freeze a Credit Score? CONTENT: Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert\n-----------------------------\nIt's important to note that a credit freeze is different from a fraud alert. With a fraud alert, the credit reporting agencies add a note to your credit reports stating that you may be a victim of fraud and providing lenders with your contact information, so they can call and verify your identity before they proceed with a credit application.\nAn initial alert lasts one year but can be renewed once it expires. Alternatively, you can add an extended fraud alert, which lasts seven years, if you have a police report or another identity theft report that shows you've been a victim of identity theft.\nFinally, if you're an active-duty military service member on a remote-duty assignment, you can file an active-duty fraud alert, to protect your credit report while you're away. This alert lasts for 12 months but can be renewed to match your deployment.\nFraud alerts may be preferable over security freezes for a few reasons. With a credit freeze, you have to thaw your credit report before applying for loans or credit cards so creditors can check your history. A fraud alert, on the other hand, allows creditors to access your report but asks the creditor to contact you to verify your identity when you (or anyone else) applies for a loan in your name—requiring no action on your part other than confirming your identity with the lender.\nIn addition, a credit freeze prevents access to your credit file indefinitely; you must remember to remove the freeze if you want to apply for credit. Fraud alerts, as noted, are temporary, with the option to extend them if necessary.\nFinally, if you place a fraud alert on your credit report with one of the credit bureaus, it will be automatically added to all three of your credit reports. With credit freezes, however, you must contact each bureau separately to place a freeze. (When you remove a credit freeze or fraud alert, you must do so with each bureau.) END