Freeze! - Your credit report that is. . .

Experian and TransUnion 2 of the three credit reporting agencies, (Equifax is the third) now allow residents of all 50 states to freeze their credit online . This is something you should consider doing.

A credit freeze is a way to block your credit reports to make it a lot tougher for an identity thief to get a loan or open a credit account in your name. That's because while a freeze is in place, no one, not even you, can open an account in your name. Lenders, insurers and even employers doing background checks are not able to access your credit file.

You can have the freeze lifted if you need to get new credit, but you have to give the bureaus a specially issued personal identification number and a few days' notice to do so.

Note that while a credit freeze can help shut down economic ID theft, it will not help eliminate criminal identity theft. That's where crooks use a fake ID with your information.

So, If you're ready to freeze your credit here are the links

TransUnion or by phone at 1-888-909-8872

Experian or by phone at 1-888-397-3742

Equifax (Online for Georgia, Iowa, New Jersey and Wyoming) or by phone at 1-800-685-1111