Identity theft is no longer a rare inconvenience—it’s a growing financial risk that affects millions of Americans each year. Criminals don’t need to steal money directly to cause damage. Increasingly, they attempt to open new credit cards, loans, or accounts in someone else’s name, often without the victim realizing it until significant harm has already been done.

The good news? There is a simple, free step you can take to dramatically reduce this risk: freezing your credit.

A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) prevents lenders from accessing your credit report without your authorization. Since most new credit requires a credit check, a freeze makes it extremely difficult for fraudsters to open accounts in your name—even if they have your Social Security number.

Importantly, a credit freeze does not affect your credit score, and you can temporarily lift or remove it at any time if you need to apply for credit yourself.

HOW TO FREEZE YOUR CREDIT (QUICK CHECKLIST) 

• Visit each of the three major credit bureaus’ websites. 
• Create or log into your secure account. 
• Select the option to place a credit freeze (not a paid lock). 
• Confirm the freeze is active and save your login credentials or PIN. 
• Repeat this process for all three bureaus. 
• Temporarily lift the freeze only when applying for new credit. 

You must place a freeze with all three credit bureaus for full protection: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. The process is free and typically takes only a few minutes per bureau. 

Credit monitoring services can alert you after suspicious activity occurs. A credit freeze helps prevent that activity from happening in the first place. Many families choose to use both, but if you had to pick just one, prevention is often the better first step. 

Freezing your credit won’t eliminate all financial risk—but it closes one of the most common doors fraudsters try to walk through. It’s quick, free, and reversible, yet it can save significant time, stress, and financial damage down the road. 

At Clarity Wealth, protecting your financial life goes beyond investing. It includes helping you safeguard what you’ve already built—so you can move forward with confidence. 
 
With Clarity Comes Confidence. 

Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network does not provide legal or tax advice. 

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Clarity Wealth is a separate entity from WFAFN. PM-09042027-5267933