Why a credit freeze isn’t enough: An AI safety guide from The Current

December 26, 2025

By Kim Komando

🔥 Freezing your credit is necessary, but don’t stop there.

Most people go to the big three bureaus but accidentally skip the fourth. I put together a quick reference with links to all four agencies, their phone numbers and what to expect when you freeze. Read it now. It’s completely free and only takes a few minutes. 

Paul in Orlando writes: “Kim, I really appreciate all you do. I froze my credit like you said. Now, I hear you talking about identity theft protection from NordProtect. Why do I need that if I froze my credit? I’m so confused!”

Paul, first, well done. Freezing your credit is a smart move. It stops criminals from opening new credit cards or loans in your name. But welcome to 2026. Identity theft has moved way beyond credit, and AI has made scams faster, cheaper and far more convincing.

🥶 Cold, hard truth 

A credit freeze simply blocks lenders from pulling your credit report. That’s it. It doesn’t stop criminals from using your personal info leaked in a data breach like the massive Aflac cyberattack I mention below.

A freeze won’t help you in these scenarios:

• Account takeovers: If a scammer gets into your bank, Amazon or PayPal account, a credit freeze is useless. AI-generated phishing and voice cloning trick smart people every day.
• Retirement theft: 401(k)s and IRAs are huge targets. Criminals quietly reroute funds without ever touching your credit report.
• Medical & government fraud: Someone can use your SSN to get surgery or file a fake tax return to steal your refund. A credit check is never required for these, so a freeze never sees it.
• Criminal records: If someone is arrested and gives your name, you could end up with a criminal record you don’t know exists until you fail a background check.

🛡️ Guard yourself

Paul, a credit freeze is essential, but it’s not enough anymore. Top services like NordProtect, a sponsor of my show, use AI to monitor the dark web around the clock. If your SSN, passwords or bank logins show up for sale, you’re alerted before the damage is done.

The biggest benefit? Restoration. If you’re compromised, you don’t spend months fighting banks and government agencies. A dedicated recovery specialist handles the cleanup for you.Identity theft protection adds the monitoring, insurance and expert recovery that a credit freeze lacks. I only recommend services that address how identity theft really works today, not how it worked 10 years ago. NordProtect is still running their holiday deal, 71% off, or only $4.27 per month. Grab it now before the deal disappears.