At SMP Hawaii, we are committed to helping Hawaii’s kūpuna and families protect themselves from financial fraud and identity theft. One of the strongest tools you can use to safeguard your personal information is a credit freeze.
A credit freeze is free, easy to set up, and can stop identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name. Here’s what you need to know.
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) limits access to your credit report. When your credit is frozen, lenders cannot check your credit report or credit score unless you temporarily or permanently lift the freeze.
Why is this important?
If scammers steal your Social Security number, they cannot open new credit cards, loans, or other accounts in your name — because lenders won’t be able to access your credit report to approve the application.
Good news: A credit freeze does not affect your current credit cards or loans, and it does not impact your credit score.
You must request a freeze separately with each of the three major credit bureaus:
Experian: experian.com/freeze/center.html
TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze
You’ll need to provide:
Full name and date of birth
Social Security number
Address history (past two years)
Proof of identity, such as a driver’s license.
You can freeze your credit online, by phone, or by mail.
If you plan to apply for a new loan or credit card, you’ll need to lift your freeze temporarily.
This can usually be done:
Instantly online or via app
By phone (within 1 hour)
With a PIN or password created when you placed the freeze.
You can also schedule a temporary lift for a certain number of days to allow lenders to access your report.
A credit freeze is one of the most effective protections against identity theft because:
It blocks criminals from opening new accounts.
It gives you control over who sees your credit report.
It is free and does not hurt your credit.
Even if you aren’t currently a victim of fraud, placing a freeze now can prevent future problems — especially after data breaches, scams, or lost personal documents.
SMP Hawaii offers free education and support to help kūpuna and families stay safe from financial fraud.
📞 Call 1-800-296-9422
📧 Email info@smphawaii.org
🌐 Visit smphawaii.org
Stay informed. Stay protected. Together, we can safeguard the people of Hawaii — one credit freeze at a time.
