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Identity Theft

What to do if someone steals your ID

Identity Theft: Law enforcement

A Publication of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

2. Law enforcement.

Report the crime to your local police or sheriff's department right away. You might also need to report it to police department(s) where the crime occurred if it's somewhere other than where you live. Give them as much documented evidence as possible. Make sure the police report lists the fraudulent accounts . Get a copy of the report, which is called an "identity theft report" under the FCRA. Keep the phone number of your investigator handy and give it to creditors and others who require verification of your case. Credit card companies and banks may require you to show the report in order to verify the crime.

FTC regulations define an "identity theft report" to include a report made to a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency.

If your local police department refuses to file a report and your situation involves fraudulent use of the U.S. mail, you can obtain an identity theft report from the U.S. Postal Inspector.

If your case involves fraudulent use of a driver's license in your name, you might be able to obtain a report from your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. The FTC has more information on identity theft reports at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html

• 1. Notify credit bureaus
• 2. Law Enforcement
• 3. Federal Trade Commission
• 4. Fraudulent Accounts
• 5. Creditors and Existing Accounts
• 6. Debt Collectors
• 7. Checking and Bank Fraud
• 8. ATM Cards
• 9. Brokerage Accounts
• 10. Mail Fraud
• 11. Secret Service
• 12. Social Security Misuse
• 13. Passports
• 14. Phone Service
• 15. Student Loans
• 16. Driver's License Misuse
• 17. ID Theft By People Known to You
• 18. Medical Identity Theft
• 19. Victim Statements
• 20. False Judgments
• 21. Legal Help
• 22. Keep Good Records
• 23. Other useful information
• 27. Resources