Q: What is the difference between a credit freeze and a fraud alert?
A fraud alert is something that the major credit bureaus attach to your credit report. When someone tries to open a credit account the lender should contact you to verify that you really want to open a new account. If you aren't reachable by phone, the credit account shouldn't be opened.
If you suspect you're a victim of identity theft, consider initiating a fraud alert, a credit freeze or both. A credit freeze is the stronger option of the two. It tightens access to your credit data by allowing you to freeze all access to your credit file.
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