Where To File Identity Theft Police Report

Reporting Identity Theft To Local Police

Filing An Identity Theft Police Report

ID theft victims should reach out to law enforcement

If you are a victim of identity theft, you should file a police report with the law enforcement agency closest to where you live.

Your local police or sheriff department must take an identity theft report if you have documents to show you were a victim.

When you go to the police station, bring supporting documents such as:

• Copies of bills or collection notices
• Bank or credit card statements

Make sure to write down the number on the police report. Your creditors may ask for the report number.

If the officers do not want to take your report, ask to speak the watch commander and mention Penal Code Section 530.6.

County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. Last change: Oct. 25, 2011

If Someone Uses Your Social Security Number To Claim Unemployment Benefits Or To Work

If you suspect that someone else has claimed unemployment benefits using your Social Security number, call the California Employment Development Departments toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-800-229-6297. For more information, see their Web site at www.edd.ca.gov. Search on the site for “fraud.” Sometimes, an identity thief will use someone elses Social Security number to be eligible to work. Its a good idea to check your Social Security earnings record to see if income earned by a thief is being posted to your account. You can get a copy of your earnings record by calling 1-800-772-1213. Or get a Request for Social Security Statement at www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7004.html. If you believe a thief is using your Social Security number to work or claim Social Security benefits, call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. Or report Social Security benefits fraud online at www.ssa.gov/oig/hotline/index.htm..

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If Your Debit Card Or Number Is Stolen

A debit card is an ATM card with a credit card logo on it. It accesses money directly from your bank account, and the legal protections are different from those for credit cards. If your debit card is compromised, call your bank right away and cancel the card. The bank will send you a new debit card and your checking account number will not change. The stolen money, however, will be gone while your bank investigates the matter. If you call the bank within two business days of the fraudulent transaction, your liability is limited to only $50. As time goes by, your liability for fraudulent transactions increases. If you wait more than 60 business days from the date the bank mailed the statement with the fraudulent transaction, you could lose the entire amount of the fraud.

How Do I File An Identity Theft Police Report

It is generally a good idea for all victims of coerced debt to file a police report. Like the Identity Theft Form, filling out a police report also lets you dispute a debt. You should bring along information to identify the specific coerced debts as part of the police report.

If you filled out an Identity Theft Form, it is helpful to bring it with you when you file the police report. If you filled out the Form online, a copy will be emailed to you that you can print out and take with you.

The police officer who is making a report can use your Identity Theft Affidavit as the basis of their report. The police officer taking your report can also sign your Identity Theft Affidavit.

When you go to the police station, it is a good idea to bring a copy of:

• Article 2.29 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which says that a victim of identity theft has the right to file a police report for identity theft, and
• Section 32.51 of the Texas Penal Code, which defines the crime of identity theft.

This information is included in the first page of Resources for Filing a Police Report for Identity Theft. You can bring that page to police departments as a resource when you are filing your report. Some police departments may not be familiar with changes in Texas law defining identity theft in the state. Bringing in this form might be helpful for informing police departments about your rights as a victim of identity theft resulting from financial abuse.

When you call:

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If Your Mail Was Stolen Or Your Address Changed By An Identity Thief

Notify the Postal Inspector if you think an identity thief has stolen your mail or filed a change of address request in your name. To find the nearest Postal Inspector, look in the white pages of the telephone book for the Post Office listing under United States Government. Or go to the Postal Inspection Services Web site at www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect.

Immediate Steps To Take

• File a report with the police/sheriff in the jurisdiction in which you live and get a copy of the report for the credit reporting agencies, banks and credit card companies. You can file the report at the police station or file online.
• In Denver, you can file at www.denvergov.org/policereport.
• You can also complete the ID Theft Affidavit provided by the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

• Consider placing a Security Freeze or Fraud Alert on/in your credit reports. See below.

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Request Additional Free Credit Reports

California identity theft victims with a police report of identity theft are entitled to receive up to 12 free credit reports, one per month for the 12 months following the date of the police report. The procedure for requesting free monthly reports is different for each of the credit bureaus.

Experian: Make a single request to receive all of your free monthly reports. Mail your request for 12 free monthly reports to Experian at P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Enclose a copy of the police report of identity theft, a copy of a government-issued identification card , and a copy of proof of current mailing address . Also provide your full name including middle initial , previous addresses for the past two years, Social Security number and date of birth.

TransUnion LLC: Write or call in your request each month. Mail to TransUnion LLC, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016. Or call the toll-free number printed on your most recent TransUnion LLC credit report. Provide your full name including middle initial , Social Security number, date of birth, and proof of residence .

Equifax: Write or call in your request each month. Mail to Equifax Fraud Department, P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374. Or call the toll-free number printed on your most recent Equifax credit report.

Before You Report A Crime Online

Before choosing to report a crime online, please note that an incident cannot be reported online if:

• The crime occurred outside of York Region. If the crime occurred outside of York Region, please contact the area’s local police service.
• Threats or violence occurred.
• The crime is rooted in hate or bias, or related to domestic violence.
• You know the suspect, have information related to a vehicle involved in the crime, or evidence is left behind.

Before reporting online, please also confirm you have a valid email address and have turned off any pop-up blocking settings, plugins or software.

Filing a false police report is a crime.

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Review Your Credit Reports Carefully

When you receive your credit reports, read them carefully. Look for accounts you dont recognize. Look in the inquiries section for names of creditors from whom you havent requested credit. You may find some inquiries identified as promotional. These occur when a company has gotten your name and address from a credit bureau to send you an offer of credit. Promotional inquiries are not signs of fraud. Also, as a general precaution, look in the personal information section to verify your Social Security number, address and name.

If you find anything you dont understand, call the credit bureau at the telephone number listed on the report. Tell them you want to block, or remove, any information on the report that is the result of identity theft. For more on what to tell the credit bureaus, see the Privacy Rights Clearinghouses Identity Theft: What to Do When It Happens to Youwww.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm

Before You File A Police Report Online

9-1-1

Filing a false police report is a crime.

Before filing a police report online you must verify you meet the criteria listed below:

• Incident happened in Unincorporated Hillsborough County
• These city limits are NOT unincorporated Hillsborough County:
• Plant City

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When To Report Identity Theft To Police

The FTC says its important to report identity theft to the police in these three cases:

In most other cases, you can report identity theft to IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC set up the website as a one-stop shop for reporting many types of identity theft. It also helps you to set up a recovery plan.

How Can You Minimize Your Risk

• Protect your SIN. Dont use it as a piece of ID and never reveal it to anyone unless you are certain the person asking for it is legally entitled to that information. When an organization requests your SIN, ask if it is legally required to collect it, and if not, offer other forms of ID.
• Pay attention to your billing cycle and ask about any missing account statements or suspicious transactions.
• Immediately report lost or stolen credit or debit cards.
• Carry only the ID you need.
• Do not write down any passwords or carry them with you.
• Protect your computer and its information by installing Internet security software products.
• Be extremely careful when you provide personal information via email or over the Internet. Take extra care when providing information on social networking sites such as Facebook.

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Assistance In Reporting Or Responding To Id Theft

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal governments one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process. Go to

If you create an account, the site will walk you through each recovery step, update your plan as needed, track your progress, and pre-fill forms and letters for you.

You may also simply browse the informational checklist of things to do if you are a victim or suspect you are a victim of identity theft.

Reports You Cannot Submit Online

• Robbery
• House and business break and enters
• Domestic disputes
• Theft of a vehicle
• Any type of fraud resulting in the loss of funds/personal information or property, including fraudulent use of debit or credit cards
• Incidents that involve lost / stolen citizenship cards, permanent resident cards, immigration documents, government cheques, or cash from the government
• Incidents involving firearms
• Stolen property for sale online such as on Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook, etc.

These crimes may require a dispatched call. Please phone the Police non-emergency line 266-1234.

FOR EMERGENCIES OR CRIMES IN PROGRESS CALL 9-1-1.

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Reports You Can Submit Online

• Theft from vehicle no limit on value of property
• Theft of property no limit on value of property
• Theft of credit or debit card – regardless of fraudulent use.
• Mischief to vehicle such as vandalism, unless there is evidence of a collision such as paint transfer
• Mischief to property such as vandalism
• Lost property with the exception of government-issued ID such as passports. Please call your local district office to report lost government issued documents.
• Attempted stolen vehicle regardless of damage value
• Break & enter an unlocked premise Entry gained by unknown persons to detached garages, secure parkades, vehicle parkades, porches, sheds, storage lockers and laundry rooms. If entry occurs by forced or kicked indoor, or lock cut then report should be reported to 403-266-1234.
• Theft from a parkade or vehicle parked in a parkade only if no forced entry, otherwise call 403-266-1234.
• Theft of mail including deliveries from postal services such as UPS.

Filing a false police report is a crime.

Note: Please turn off your pop-up blocking software before filing the report.

Use The Id Theft Affidavit

Creditors may ask you to fill out fraud affidavits. The Federal Trade Commissions ID Theft Affidavit is accepted by the credit bureaus and by most major creditors. Send copies of the completed form to creditors where the thief opened accounts in your name. Also send copies to creditors where the thief made charges on your account, to the credit bureaus, and to the police. The form is available on the FTC Web site at ww.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/affidavit.pdf. File a complaint of identity theft with the FTC. See their Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft The FTC keeps a database of identity theft cases that is used by many law enforcement agencies.

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Tips When Filing A Police Report

With luck, filing a police report will go smoothly. You can then concentrate on taking steps to recover from identity theft.

But some police departments may not be fully prepared to take your report. For instance, officers may be preoccupied with other crimes or unfamiliar with how to handle identity theft cases.

Here are some tips that can help.

• Be firm, but calm when seeking to file a police report.
• Try to remain flexible. The police may send you to a website to fill out a form, instead of taking your information in person.
• Contact your state attorney generals office if the police are unable or unwilling to take your report. States may have different processes for filing a report. An attorney generals office or website may be able to provide the details.
• Be specific. When you make a police report, give detailed information about the identity theft, such as dates accounts were opened in your name or who might have committed the fraud.
• Make copies of your identity theft police report and your FTC complaint. Youll need these to resolve any disputes with companies where the identity thief used your name.

Bottom line: Reporting identity theft to the police or the FTC is a smart step to take. It could save time and money as you recover from identity theft.

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Close Accounts That Have Been Tampered With Or Opened Fraudulently

• For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the companys fraud dispute forms. If the company doesnt have special forms, write a letter to dispute the fraudulent charges or debits. In either case, write to the company at the address given for billing inquiries, NOT the address for sending your payments.

• For new unauthorized accounts, ask if the company accepts the ID Theft Affidavit. If not, ask the representative to send you the companys fraud dispute forms. If the company already has reported these accounts or debits on your credit report, dispute this fraudulent information.

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