New federal rule makes it easier to fight identity theft

You’ve been hacked, you see weird charges in your bank account and fear the problem might be getting worse.

A new federal law makes it easier to stop the threat.

Jerad Albracht with the Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection explains.

“It’s free for everyone nationwide to freeze and unfreeze your credit report,” Albracht said. “That’s always been one of the best protections that any consumer has to protect their credit and personal information from identity theft.”

Albracht says you will get a pin number when you place a freeze and it remains in lace until you lift it.

“It simply locks out any thief that wants to take action on your credit,” he said.

Previously a fee was involved in both actions.