Why can’t a scammer who can get your credit report, also unlock your credit?
Comment on Wayfair's call center insists you give them your SSN before they'll file a report for credit fraud
ryathal@sh.itjust.works 2 months agoLocking credit doesn’t prevent it from changing, it just makes it so no one can get your report until you unlock it. This should be the default behavior, but it would prevent these companies from making as much money.
intensely_human@lemm.ee 2 months ago
LifeOfChance@lemmy.world 2 months ago
There is a randomly generated password you get when you freeze it. DONT LOSE IT!! Its a bitch to recover if you do. One of them gives you a list of like 25 different ones you can use (you just type one of the 25 from the list)
intensely_human@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Fascinating. After tens of thousands of years, the financial system discovers passwords.
CrayonRosary@lemmy.world 2 months ago
“I got to 800. Time to lock it in, go on a spending spree, and not pay anything back!”
gregorum@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Oh! Thanks!
OtisRamflow@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Yeah locking it just means nobody can open new lines of credit on the social security number. Then you can use multi factor authentication on the different bureau sites. You’ll need to lock it on all three… Which sucks.
It’s annoying, it’s stupid that we have to do this. But you gotta look out for yourself.
KnightontheSun@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Most places I’ve seen this referenced it is called a “credit freeze”, but good advice nonetheless.