TL;DR: Before going to the police, collect evidence such as your FTC Identity Theft Report (if in the US), account statements showing fraudulent activity, and any correspondence from scammers.
How to File a Police Report for Identity Theft — a clear, step-by-step guide to what to do and how long it takes.
Step 1: Gather your documentation first
Before going to the police, collect evidence such as your FTC Identity Theft Report (if in the US), account statements showing fraudulent activity, and any correspondence from scammers.
Step 2: Go to your local police department
File the report with the police department covering where you live, even if the crime happened online or the perpetrator is elsewhere — jurisdiction for identity theft is typically based on the victim's location.
Step 3: Explain that you need an official police report number
Make clear you need a formal report with a case number, not just a conversation — many banks and creditors specifically require this documentation to process disputes.
Step 4: Ask for a copy of the report
Request a printed or written copy of the report for your own records, since you'll likely need to provide it to multiple institutions.
Step 5: Follow up if needed
If the department is slow to provide the report, follow up by phone or in person — persistence is often necessary, especially for cases that seem to have no immediate suspect.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading How to Freeze a Child's Credit File.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see How to Freeze Your Credit in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Step 1: Gather your documentation first
Before going to the police, collect evidence such as your FTC Identity Theft Report (if in the US), account statements showing fraudulent activity, and any correspondence from scammers.
Step 2: Go to your local police department
File the report with the police department covering where you live, even if the crime happened online or the perpetrator is elsewhere — jurisdiction for identity theft is typically based on the victim's location.
Step 3: Explain that you need an official police report number
Make clear you need a formal report with a case number, not just a conversation — many banks and creditors specifically require this documentation to process disputes.
Step 4: Ask for a copy of the report
Request a printed or written copy of the report for your own records, since you'll likely need to provide it to multiple institutions.
Step 5: Follow up if needed
If the department is slow to provide the report, follow up by phone or in person — persistence is often necessary, especially for cases that seem to have no immediate suspect.