01 Nov Mom says I should freeze my credit reports. Should I?

Q. My mom said I should freeze my credit reports. I only use one credit card. Do I need to do this?
— New to credit

A. Oh yes, you absolutely should.

A credit freeze can help protect anyone from fraud, no matter how many credit accounts you have.

Let’s imagine for a moment that a scammer is going to try to apply for loans or credit cards using your identity.

When they complete an application, the lender will turn to the credit bureaus to check you out to see if you’re a good credit risk. They won’t approve the application without making this check.

If you freeze your credit reports, it will stop the credit bureaus from sharing your credit history.

So it should stop someone from opening up accounts in your name.

And if you are even going to apply for credit, don’t worry. You can simply unfreeze your reports for a period of time so your lender has a chance to look at your credit history.

You can freeze your reports by contacting the credit bureaus online or by phone.

Experian: (888) 397-3742

Equifax: (800) 349-9960

TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

Good luck to you.

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This story was originally published in November 2026. 

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.