 TITLE: What Is the Difference Between a Fraud Alert and a Credit Freeze? CONTENT: How to Freeze Your Credit\n-------------------------\nTo freeze your credit reports, you must submit requests to each of the three credit bureaus individually. Procedures vary somewhat at each, but they are essentially similar to those used at the Experian Security Freeze Center. As part of the freeze request, which can be made online or by phone, you will be assigned (or asked to create) a PIN code or password for use in unfreezing your credit file.\nWhen you provide a PIN or use a password to request removal of a credit freeze online or by phone, your credit file will be unfrozen, or \"thawed,\" within one hour. If you lose your PIN or forget your password, thawing is still possible, but it may take longer and require resubmission of proof of identity. END