Should you freeze your credit? Here's what you need to know

Does it seem like credit scams are getting out of control?

A credit freeze on your accounts could give you some peace of mind - especially if your personal information has already been compromised.

A credit freeze is a restriction you can put in your credit report with each of the three major credit bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.

"It safeguards against anyone opening a line of credit in your name for fraudulent purposes," an expert told Eyewitness News.

The freeze locks down your accounts. No one can open new credit in your name.

It's also free and won't affect your credit score.

The only real drawback is that it requires some extra security steps if you do want to make a large transaction, such as buying a car.

"This means logging into each account with the three major