10/20/2026
Protecting yourself and the people you love can start with one simple, free step.
As a former banker and someone with aging family members, I’ve had a front row seat to the ways fraudsters try to take advantage of people, especially those who may be more vulnerable. It’s something I think about for my own family, and I want to make sure you know about an option that can help protect yours.
A FREE credit freeze makes it much harder for someone to open a credit card or loan in your name by restricting access to your credit report.
You’ll need to place the freeze separately with all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
It doesn’t lower your credit score, and you can continue using your existing credit cards. When you need to apply for new credit, you can temporarily lift the freeze for free. If you’re preparing to buy a home, coordinate that timing with your lender.
And yes, you can dispute fraudulent accounts. But that doesn’t mean the damage disappears overnight. Untangling identity theft can take months, and in complicated cases, years. Meanwhile, you’re left dealing with the stress, paperwork and potential disruption to plans you’ve worked hard for.
In real estate, I see how much preparation goes into buying a home. Protecting your credit is part of protecting that opportunity.
A credit freeze won’t prevent every kind of identity theft, but it’s a valuable layer of protection you can put in place before something happens.
Have the conversation with your family. Help an aging parent understand their options. Take a few minutes to protect yourself, too. 💛
Find official links and instructions here:
https://www.identitytheft.gov/credit-freeze
Report identity theft and get a recovery plan
