Should You File a Police Report for Identity Theft?
Filing an identity theft report with local police is a crucial step toward recovering from the impact of fraud. Many banks and organizations require a police report (and an ID theft affidavit) to prove fraudulent activity before they will reverse transfers, refund withdrawals, and close accounts.
To file a report for identity theft with your local police department, you need to:
- First, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Go to IdentityTheft.gov and submit a report with proof of the crime. Most police departments require an FTC affidavit before they’ll take your report.
- Then, gather all necessary information. Make sure you have your government-issued photo ID and evidence of the fraud — including bank account statements, fraud alerts, and a copy of your credit reports.
- Contact your local police department. Call or visit your local police station and ask to speak to the fraud department to file an official report of identity theft. You may need to be persistent in order to get someone to take your statement.
- Clarify the next steps. Document your visit, including the officer’s contact details, and arrange a date to follow up so you can keep up with developments in your case. You may also need to file a separate police report in the jurisdiction where your identity was fraudulently used.
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When Do Local Police Handle Identity Theft Cases?
Unfortunately, many local police departments may not want to investigate identity theft on your behalf. Most scams take place online, making them difficult to track.
However, there are some specific situations in which you should most definitely be able to file a police report:
- You know the person who committed the crime. If someone you know has stolen and used your personally identifiable information (PII), notifying police about your suspicions can help stop the identity thief.
- You have information that could aid a police investigation into the theft. Giving police information about the scam — such as notices of a fraudulent change of address or proof that someone used your Social Security number (SSN) — could help investigators track down a potential suspect.
- Your identity was used during a police interaction or crime. If someone uses your personal information during a traffic stop or an arrest, this is criminal identity theft. Filing a police report can help clear your name of any wrongdoings.
- Your financial institutions require a police report for identity theft. Some banking institutions, credit unions, and debt collectors need official police reports on file for their records as they resolve disputes.
Even if you don’t fall into one of these categories, you still have rights when it comes to filing identity theft police reports.
In California, police must take identity theft reports under Penal Code Section 530.6 [*]. In 2013, 37 states introduced identity theft legislation, and 23 states passed the new laws [*]. However, in some states, local law enforcement may refuse to file your identity theft complaint.
If local police refuse to accept your identity theft report, the U.S. Department of Justice recommends that you do the following [*]:
- Ask to file a “miscellaneous incidents” report.
- Go to a different police station, sheriff’s department, state police, or federal authority to file your identity theft report.
- Contact your State Attorney General’s office, confirm whether state law requires local law enforcement to file identity theft reports, and file a complaint against the department.
Pro tip: The National Association of Attorney Generals (NAAG) provides a list of current Attorney Generals for each U.S. state and territory.
Your First Step: File an Identity Theft Report With the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) acts as a central repository for I.D. theft reports across the United States, and supersedes all local and state law enforcement agencies in identity theft matters.
Once you submit your FTC affidavit, you’ll also receive a personalized recovery plan tailored to your specific situation. Local police departments require an FTC identity theft report before they will file a local police report.
Here’s what to do:
1. Go to IdentityTheft.gov
Why? This website is the FTC’s official portal for reporting identity theft. It provides a structured and secure process for documenting your case.
Action: Use the online tool to choose the prompt that best describes your situation.
The FTC’s online system will ask you questions and automatically fill in your identity theft affidavit.Then, verify your identity by providing personally identifiable information (PII), such as your full legal name, date of birth, SSN, Driver’s license number, and current address.
Why? Incomplete or inaccurate information about your identity or the identity theft can cause issues when reporting the crime to local law enforcement, financial institutions, and government agencies.
Action: Continue to click on the appropriate responses, and make sure you complete every section of the form accurately.
The more information you provide the FTC with, the more detailed your personal recovery plan will become.Remember to include contact information, including your email address and phone number, to make it easy for authorities to follow up with you.
3. Print out a copy of your identity theft affidavit
Why? The information you’ve provided will be used to create an identity theft affidavit and a personalized recovery plan.
You'll need your identity theft affidavit to:
- Report the crime to credit card companies and other financial institutions.
- Dispute fraudulent charges with credit reporting agencies, vendors, and debt collectors.
- File a police report with your local police department.
Action: Once you complete your identity theft affidavit, download and print out the report, and keep a copy for your records. You may also share copies with impacted banks, bureaus, and vendors.
Can You Call the FTC to Report Identity Theft?
While the FTC encourages identity theft victims to file an online report, you can also file a report over the telephone via the FTC's toll-free identity theft hotline at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
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How To File a Police Report for Identity Theft in 6 Steps
With your FTC affidavit completed, you can now contact your local law enforcement to file a report.
Some police departments accept identity theft reports over the phone. However, many others may need you to come in and file a report in person so that they can verify your identity and claims. It’s best to call your local police and ask them how you should report your identity theft.
Note: Don’t call 911. Instead, search online for your local law enforcement’s website and call its non-emergency number.
2. Locate (or fill out, if you haven’t already) your FTC Identity Theft Report
Your local police department will ask for your FTC report. Make sure you bring it with you to the police station. If you haven’t yet done so, you can complete it in a few minutes online by visiting IdentityTheft.gov.
3. Bring personally identifying documents to verify your identity
The police will need to confirm you are who you claim to be.
Arrive prepared with official documents, including:
- Your government-issued photo I.D., such as a driver’s license, Social Security card, or passport.
- At least one item that provides proof of address — clearly displaying your name and address — on mortgage paperwork, a rental agreement, utility bills, pay stubs, credit card statements, or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms, etc.
4. Collect specific evidence of identity theft
You can aid the investigation by providing as much proof of the theft as possible.
For example, you could bring:
- Credit card statements or bank account statements reflecting unauthorized activity.
- Data breach notifications, or suspicious activity in your online accounts
- Credit reports depicting unauthorized new accounts or inquiries in your file.
- Social Security Administration (SSA) notices about unauthorized unemployment benefit applications or account changes.
- Correspondences with companies about fraudulent purchases made in your account or name.
- Debt collection letters or credit card approval letters that you received in the mail.
- IRS notices about tax anomalies.
Ensure that these are all dated and clearly illustrate the fraud that you’re filing your report about.
Also, if you were scammed online, bring printouts of any interactions with the scammer — such as text messages showing the scammer’s telephone number, social media direct messages (DMs), or emails.
5. Stay calm but persistent during the interview
In some cases, police may try to hurry you through your statement or seem disinterested in what you’re saying. However, it’s important that you stay calm and don’t get overwhelmed or frustrated. Be specific about what happened, show your evidence, and ask for documentation of your police report and file.
6. Document everything, and set a time to follow up
Take detailed notes of the conversation you had with the police — and include dates, times, and the names of the police officers.
It's essential to record the report number of your police report — as creditors may ask for it when you dispute charges. Keep all this information together in a file related to your identity theft.
Finally, don’t forget to ask the police officers what they’ll do next and when an appropriate time would be to follow up.
📚 Related: Identity Theft Victim Assistance: 5 Key Resources →
What Happens After You File a Police Report for Identity Theft?
After you submit your police report, an officer will follow up on the information you provided and see if they can catch the criminal. This waiting period can span a long time, as identity theft cases are often lower priority or may have complicated jurisdictional issues.
For example, you may have to file a police report with your local law enforcement and the police department in the town or county where the scammer used your identity.
What Else To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen
If you’re a victim of identity theft, here are additional steps you can take to secure your identity and minimize the damage:
- Freeze your credit. Contact each of the three major credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — and ask them to freeze your credit. This measure will prevent scammers from accessing your credit file, taking out loans, and opening new credit accounts in your name. Note: To enable a credit freeze, you need to contact each of the major credit bureaus individually.
- Call the fraud departments at your bank and credit card issuers. Cancel any compromised accounts, and ask for new credit and debit cards. You can also take this opportunity to dispute any fraudulent charges on your credit card or bank statements. Have both a copy of your identity theft affidavit and a copy of the police report handy to prove that you are a victim of fraud.
- Secure your online accounts. Update your online passwords with complex combinations of letters, symbols, and numbers. Also, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) with an authenticator app. This security measure will stop thieves from accessing other accounts, including your email and social media — even if they know your login credentials.
📚 Related: How Long Does It Take To Recover From Identity Theft? →
Step 2: Report the fraud
- Review your bank statements for suspicious activity. Take note of all unauthorized or unfamiliar transactions — including dates, times, amounts, and vendors. Don't overlook small charges, as many thieves first test stolen cards by attempting to make smaller purchases.
- Identity impacted companies. Request a free credit report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Note any new account numbers that are listed as well as other signs of fraud. Take note of the companies involved, which may include payday loan companies, retail stores, and software applications.
- Reach out to any impacted companies or agencies. You should be able to find contact information through their official websites and via Google searches. The same goes for government agencies. For example, you should contact your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if your driver's license was stolen.
Step 3: Recovering your funds and accounts
- Dispute fraudulent charges and incorrect information on your credit report. When you contact credit card companies and lenders, ask them to remove charges and hard inquiries from your credit report that have resulted from fraudulent accounts being opened in your name. You may need to supply your FTC affidavit during the dispute process.
- Stop debt collectors from contacting you. If a criminal took out loans in your name, you may need to contact debt collection agencies to ensure that they remove your details from their files. The FTC has a good template you can use.
- Contact your identity theft insurance provider (if applicable). If you have identity theft insurance, call your provider first. They’ll help you navigate each step of the recovery process.
Recovering from identity theft is a stressful experience — but you don’t have to go through it alone. Knowing how to file a report for identity theft will help you get on the road to recovery, but it can take a lot of time to do things right.
Aura provides victims of identity theft with personalized recovery plans — along with 24/7 support from a dedicated U.S.-based team of fraud remediation specialists to help you navigate challenges with financial institutions, credit bureaus, and government agencies.
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