You want to know whether identity theft protection is worth paying for or just a freeze + a free credit monitor.
A freeze stops new credit accounts from opening in your name — that's it. It does NOT stop: tax refund fraud, medical ID theft, account takeovers (banking, email, retail), SIM swaps, or child ID theft. For those, you need monitoring + alerts.
Continuous monitoring of credit files, SSN usage, dark web mentions, bank account changes, address-change requests, and court/criminal records. Plus restoration specialists who handle the paperwork if your identity is stolen, and insurance that covers lost wages + legal fees.
Yes — it's underwritten by AIG/Travelers/Hartford and pays for: lost wages (up to $1,500/wk for 5 weeks), legal fees, CPA fees to restore tax records, and out-of-pocket recovery costs. It does NOT reimburse stolen funds directly (your bank handles that under Reg E).
A freeze is necessary but not sufficient. It only blocks new credit accounts — protection covers the other 80% of identity theft scenarios.
Not when bundled options (like ours) deliver the same coverage for less. Compare the insurance amount and what's included before paying.
Look for plans that include child SSN monitoring — kids are 35x more likely to be victims because the theft goes undetected for years.
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