Credit reports can’t be frozen online

How Do I … freeze my credit report online?

The quick answer: You can’t.

But consumers in all 50 states can freeze their credit reports by sending a request to the three main credit bureaus. Though you cannot make that request online, you can find the mailing addresses to the credit agencies on the Web and then send certified mail to each one.

By freezing your information, you stop others from accessing your credit report unless you authorize its release. After that, any request for your personal credit report is either legitimate or the result of possible identity theft. You will then be notified if someone makes such a request.

The three reporting companies will charge you $10 for a credit freeze, unless you are a victim of identity theft; in that case it’s free.

To see the freeze-request address at Transunion, go to http://tinyurl.com /28a5vh and look for “Security Freeze.”

For Experian, the link is www.experian .com/consumer/ security_freeze.html.

For Equifax, the link is http://tiny url.com/28n6hy.