A free first step against new-account fraud
Plain-language guides for adults 55 and over, and for their adult children. Start with a free credit freeze. Paid tools are optional.
This site is for adults 55 and over, and for adult children who want a clear first step they can take with a parent. Start with a free credit freeze at all three nationwide bureaus. Paid monitoring is optional. It does some things a freeze does not do, and it does not replace the freeze.
Holiday shopping week: Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27. Fake storefronts, “pay a small delivery fee” texts, and pressure to pay with gift cards show up every year. Official advice is linked in the articles below. If a message feels rushed, stop and use a phone number or website you already trust — not a link in a text.
Articles
- What the FTC’s October 19, 2026, older-adults report actually says
Reported losses, medians, and why those figures are not a prediction about any one person. - How to freeze your credit at all three bureaus for free
Step-by-step, with links only to official Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion pages. - Black Friday and holiday shopping scams
Fake sites, typo addresses, and payment tricks that show up around big sale days. - Package-delivery text scams
How to check a “your package is held” text without tapping a link. - Tech-support scams
Pop-ups, unexpected calls, and why a freeze does not stop this kind of theft. - IRS and Medicare impostor calls
What the IRS and Medicare say they will and will not do, plus how to report a call. - How to help an aging parent set up protection
A calm checklist you can sit down and do together. - Aura vs LifeLock: prices published November 12, 2026 #ad
A dated price table from official pages, not a “best plan” award. - What paid monitoring adds over a free credit freeze #ad
The freeze first, then only the extras a paid plan may add. - Grandparent scams and family-emergency calls
A family code word and a callback rule that do not cost anything.
A paid plan is optional
If you already have freezes in place and want to compare a paid identity-protection plan, we link to Aura’s current plans #ad. We may earn a commission. Read the official terms yourself. Prices change. We last checked published prices on November 12, 2026.