You have a credit freeze. It still isn’t enough
Credit freezes are designed to block new credit applications but have limitations against certain types of fraud. Synthetic identity fraud can bypass these freezes by using a real Social Security number with a fabricated identity. As identity fraud losses continue to rise, it is clear that additional protective measures are necessary beyond just a credit freeze.
- ▪Credit freezes have been free at major bureaus since 2018 and help block new credit applications.
- ▪The 2026 Identity Fraud Study reported traditional identity fraud losses reached $27.3 billion, affecting 18 million victims.
- ▪Synthetic identity fraud can bypass credit freezes by using a real SSN with a fake name and date of birth.
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Security You have a credit freeze. It still isn’t enough A credit freeze helps block new accounts, but synthetic identity fraud and account takeovers can still slip through By Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report Fox News Published May 23, 2026 2:48pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for May 22 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Credit freezes have been free at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion since 2018. They are built to block one of the most common forms of identity fraud: new credit applications opened in your name. But the latest numbers show why a freeze cannot be your only line of defense.
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