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Saving Advice
Saving Advice
Drew Blankenship

How to Freeze Your Credit for Free After 60—and Why Every Retiree Should Do It

freeze your credit
Freezing your credit is a fast, completely free way to protect your retirement savings from identity thieves. By contacting the three major bureaus, you can securely lock out scammers in minutes. Lordn/Shutterstock

When you turn 60, you’re likely thinking about the latter half of your life and what it’ll look like. You’re entering the home stretch of your career, and most people are looking forward to retirement, travel, and more time with beloved family members. However, reaching this demographic also means you inadvertently become a prime target for sophisticated identity thieves who are eager to exploit established credit histories and substantial life savings.

The FTC has warned that identity theft affects adults of every age, and credit freezes remain one of its strongest recommendations after data breaches or suspected identity theft. The agency also notes that a security freeze is free, doesn’t affect your credit score, and makes it much harder for someone to open new accounts in your name.

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