153 Million Driver's Licenses Exposed: How to Freeze Your Credit in the UK Today

This weekend, news broke that the FBI is investigating a service that has been selling access to over 153 million driver's licenses. That's not just a US problem—UK citizens' data often ends up in these databases too. If you drive, your license number could be on the list, and that opens doors for fraudsters to open bank accounts, take out loans, or even file tax returns in your name.

But here's the good news: you don't have to sit and wait for the worst to happen. There's a free, simple tool in the UK that can stop most credit fraud dead in its tracks: a credit freeze.

What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze locks your credit report, so no new accounts can be opened in your name unless you temporarily lift the freeze. It's like putting a padlock on your identity. Even if a criminal has your license number, they can't use it to get credit.

How to freeze your credit in the UK

Contact each of the three main credit agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—and request a freeze. This is free and takes about 10 minutes total. You'll get a PIN or password to manage the freeze later.

What about the recent dark web activity?

Our DarkWatch team flagged an active ransomware leak site that could contain stolen UK data. But while you can't control whether companies get hacked, you can control how prepared you are. Freezing your credit, checking your bank statements weekly, and staying alert to unusual mail will keep you one step ahead.

Your takeaway

This weekend, spend 10 minutes freezing your credit with all three agencies. It's the single most effective thing you can do to block fraudsters from using your identity. Stay safe, and listen to Monday's episode for more in-depth coverage of the latest scams.