How and Why to Freeze Your Child's Credit (And How to Do It at All Three Bureaus)
Children are among the most targeted victims of identity theft — not despite having no credit history, but because of it. A clean Social Security number with no credit file attached is valuable to criminals precisely because it can be exploited for years, sometimes decades, before anyone notices. The child applies for their first apartment or student loan at 18 and discovers a mountain of debt in their name that's been accumulating since they were in elementary school.
Freezing your child's credit is the single most effective preventive measure available. It's free, it's permanent until you remove it, and it takes roughly an hour spread across three separate requests. This page explains what a freeze actually does, why children are particularly vulnerable, and the exact steps to complete the process at each of the three credit bureaus. Note: People searching for financial help, whether online, through social media, or even in person are frequent targets of fraud - see our guide for how to recognize and avoid scams.
Why children are targeted
Most adults have some awareness of identity theft and take basic precautions — monitoring their credit, being careful with their Social Security number, watching for suspicious account activity. Children have none of that protection, and their SSNs are just as valid as an adult's for opening credit accounts.
The FTC and security researchers have consistently found that child identity theft is significantly underreported, partly because there's often no credit file to monitor and no financial activity to raise red flags. A thief who opens credit in a child's name can, in many cases, use it freely for years. When the fraud is eventually discovered, untangling it requires disputing accounts that may be years old, working with creditors who are skeptical, and potentially taking legal action.
Common ways a child's SSN gets compromised include data breaches at schools, medical offices, or government agencies; malicious websites that collect SSNs under the guise of account registration or verification; and unfortunately, in many documented cases, misuse by family members or people close to the household.
How criminals get a child's Social Security number
An identity thief can buy a stolen Social Security number on the dark web for just a few dollars, and children's numbers are consistently among the most sought-after because of their clean credit history. But the number doesn't have to come from a data breach to end up in the wrong hands.
Families actively searching for financial assistance online face a specific and growing risk. Scam websites designed to look like legitimate government benefit programs, utility assistance applications, or rental help portals routinely ask for Social Security numbers as part of a fake "eligibility verification" process. A child's SSN entered into one of those forms can be harvested and sold within hours. The same risk applies to unsolicited texts and emails claiming a family qualifies for a benefit, a stimulus payment, or emergency assistance — these campaigns are frequently designed to collect SSNs from households under financial stress, because those families are more likely to respond quickly without scrutinizing the source.
Other common sources include data breaches at schools, pediatric medical offices, and government agencies, all of which hold children's SSNs as a matter of routine. And in a significant share of documented child identity theft cases, the bad actor is someone with existing access to the household — a family member, a family friend, or someone in a position of trust.
If your child's Social Security number was entered into any online form you're not completely certain was a legitimate government or nonprofit site, treat that as sufficient reason to place the freeze now rather than waiting.
What a credit freeze does
A credit freeze — formally called a "security freeze" — instructs the credit bureaus to block access to the credit file. When a lender, landlord, or other creditor requests a credit check as part of an application, a frozen file cannot be accessed. The application is effectively stopped before it starts. Even a thief who has your child's full SSN and personal information cannot open new credit in their name if the file is frozen, because the lender cannot pull the report.
For children, the bureaus handle this slightly differently than for adults. Most children don't have a credit file at all — they've never applied for credit, taken out a loan, or been the subject of a credit inquiry. When you request a freeze, the bureau creates a file for the child and immediately freezes it. This is normal and doesn't create any negative credit history. The freeze simply exists as a protective record.
One important distinction: a credit freeze and a credit lock are different products. Both restrict access to a credit file, but freezes are federally regulated, free by law, and the stronger protection. Credit locks are typically offered as a paid subscription product by the bureaus themselves. For this purpose, you want the freeze.
How to do it: all three bureaus
You must contact each bureau separately. Unfortunately there is no centralized process. All three require the request to be submitted by mail — you cannot do this online for a minor. Once the freeze is in place, you can manage (lift or remove) it online or by phone. Plan for the process to take two to three weeks from the time you mail your documents to confirmation of the freeze.
For each bureau, you'll need to provide: a copy of your government-issued ID (driver's license or passport); a copy of the child's birth certificate; copies of both your and the child's Social Security cards; and documentation of your current address such as a utility bill or bank statement. Because you're mailing sensitive documents, use certified mail with tracking for each submission.
- Equifax: Download the Minor Freeze Request form from https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/ and follow the instructions included with the form. Mail your completed form and document copies to: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348. You can call (888) 298-0045 for assistance. Once the freeze is placed, you can manage it online through a myEquifax account.
- Experian: Visit https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request/ for the current form and instructions. Mail your request and documents to: Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. You can call 1-888-397-3742 for assistance.
- TransUnion: TransUnion calls this a "Protected Consumer Freeze." Write a letter requesting one and include your supporting documents. Mail to: TransUnion, P.O. Box 380, Woodlyn, PA 19094. Full instructions and current details are at https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request/. Note: TransUnion has moved away from PINs and now manages freezes through online account login — you will not receive a separate PIN for a minor's freeze the way the older process worked.
Bureaus are required by federal law to place the freeze within three business days of receiving your mailed request and to send written confirmation within five business days.
After the freeze is in place
Once all three freezes are confirmed, no new credit can be opened in your child's name. The freeze stays in place until you or your child request its removal. At age 16, a minor can request to manage or remove their own freeze directly. When your child is ready to apply for credit as a young adult — a student loan, first credit card, first apartment — they'll need to contact each bureau to lift or remove the freeze before the creditor can access their report.
Keep your confirmation documents in a safe place. You'll need them, along with updated identity documentation, to manage the freeze later.
Warning signs that a child's identity may already be compromised
It's worth checking for an existing credit file before placing the freeze, particularly if you have any reason to suspect a problem. Warning signs include: pre-approved credit card offers or other financial mail arriving in your child's name; a tax notice from the IRS indicating that a second return was filed using the child's SSN; a lender or creditor contacting you about an account in the child's name; or — if you try to open a financial account for your child — a denial based on existing credit history.
If you find evidence that your child's identity has been used, report it immediately to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, which provides a personalized recovery plan and can help notify creditors and place fraud alerts. File a report with your local police as well to create a record. If you need legal help navigating the dispute process and can't afford an attorney, federally funded free legal aid is available to low-income families for civil matters including identity theft — details are on the free legal aid page.
Verify before submitting
Bureau processes, mailing addresses, and required documentation can change. Confirm the current instructions directly on each bureau's website before mailing anything.
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