Thanks for all of the information, ladies! On Wednesday I was able to freeze my credit by phone with all four agencies. I just didn't feel comfortable doing it online. For my husband, I was able to freeze three by phone - all but Equifax (naturally). The lines were overloaded every time I tried. But he called them at 5am (Central time) yesterday and got through. Oh, and we weren't charged anything. In our state, anyone 62 and over doesn't pay to start the freeze or to pause or remove it.
I feel better now, but not safe.
ETA: I didn't at any point talk to a live person - all of them were automated and gave me a confirmation number at the end. Also, most of them said that a PIN would be mailed. Equifax actually gave the PIN over the phone.
"Breathe in, breathe out, move on." Jimmy Buffett