To file a police report for identity theft, start at IdentityTheft.gov to generate an FTC Identity Theft Report, then take that document along with your ID, proof of address, and evidence of the fraud to the police department where you live. The local report can be made in person, online, or over the non-emergency phone line, depending on what your department offers. Together, the two reports give you the documentation credit bureaus and creditors ask for when you dispute fraudulent accounts.
Generate the FTC Identity Theft Report First
Before you go to the station, complete the online process at IdentityTheft.gov. It walks you through the details of the fraud, builds a personalized recovery plan, and produces an FTC Identity Theft Report that carries legal weight — filing false information on it can result in criminal penalties.1Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Resources Print or save it. That’s the document you’ll hand to the officer, and the one you’ll later send to credit bureaus and creditors.2Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Recovery Steps
The FTC replaced its older standalone Identity Theft Affidavit with this online process, so there’s no separate paper form to download.
What to Bring to the Police Station
The FTC’s recovery steps list the documents to bring with you:2Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Recovery Steps
- Your printed FTC Identity Theft Report
- A government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID card
- Proof of address, such as a mortgage statement, rental agreement, or utility bill
- Evidence of the theft: bank or credit card statements showing unauthorized charges, debt collection letters, IRS notices about suspicious tax filings, or any other documents that show someone used your identity
Flag the specific fraudulent transactions on your statements before you arrive. Officers handling heavy caseloads produce more thorough reports when the information is easy to follow.
Write a Timeline
A chronological summary of events helps the officer understand the scope of the crime without having to piece it together from scattered documents. Include the date you first noticed the fraud, specific dates of unauthorized account openings or charges, the total dollar amount involved, and any steps you’ve already taken with banks or creditors.
Preserve Digital Evidence
If the fraud involved online activity, gather what you can. Suspicious emails may contain header information showing the sender’s IP address or the server that routed the message. Screenshots of fraudulent accounts, unfamiliar login notifications, and text messages requesting personal data are all worth preserving. Save them as PDFs or screenshots with visible timestamps, since the original metadata can help investigators trace the source.
Which Department to File With
File with the law enforcement agency where you live, even if the fraud happened in another state, another country, or entirely online. Your local department is the right starting point, and it’s the report you’ll use for financial disputes. If fraudulent activity targeted a business elsewhere, you can file a secondary report in that jurisdiction, but the home-district report is primary.
Departments generally accept identity theft reports even when the suspect is unknown or located somewhere else, and a number of states have laws requiring police to take these reports regardless of where the crime originated.
How to File
In Person
Going to the station lets you hand your evidence directly to an officer and ask questions on the spot. Bring your printed FTC Identity Theft Report along with copies — not originals — of your statements and supporting documents for the case file. Keep your originals for credit bureau disputes and creditor communications later.
Online
Many departments offer online portals for non-violent crimes like identity theft. You’ll select a crime category, fill in structured fields with your personal information and fraud details, and upload digital copies of your evidence. After submitting, you should receive a confirmation number or case reference.
By Phone
Calling the non-emergency police line connects you with a dispatcher who can take a preliminary report. Phone reports often lead to a follow-up appointment or a request to submit documents through a secure email link to complete the file.
Get the Case Number and a Copy of the Report
Before you leave or close out the online form, make sure you have a case number or report number. That number is your reference for everything that follows: credit bureau disputes, creditor communications, and fraud alert requests. Ask for a copy of the report, or find out when and how to obtain one. Processing times and fees for report copies vary by department, so confirm those details at the time of filing.
What the Report Does for You
The police report is a working document, not a formality. Here’s how it gets used:
- Blocking fraudulent information from your credit file. Send a copy of the report (or your FTC Identity Theft Report) to each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — along with proof of your identity and a letter identifying the fraudulent accounts or debts. Under federal law, the bureau must block that information within four business days of receiving your materials.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-2 – Block of Information Resulting From Identity Theft
- Disputing fraudulent debts with creditors. Many creditors require a police report or FTC Identity Theft Report before closing fraudulent accounts or removing unauthorized charges.
- Requesting transaction records. You can ask businesses to provide copies of applications, transaction records, or other documents related to the fraudulent use of your identity, and including a copy of your identity theft report strengthens your legal standing to receive those records.
- Placing an extended fraud alert. With an identity theft report on file, you can request a seven-year extended fraud alert that tells businesses to verify your identity before opening any new account in your name. Contact one of the three major credit bureaus and that bureau is required to notify the other two. Without an identity theft report, you can only place an initial fraud alert lasting one year.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Active Duty Alerts
If the Department Won’t Take the Report
Some departments initially resist filing identity theft reports, especially when the crime appears to have happened in another jurisdiction or the suspect is unknown. A few things you can do:
- Be persistent. Explain that credit bureaus require a police report to block fraudulent accounts from your credit file, and that creditors often won’t resolve disputes without one.
- Ask for a supervisor or detective if the desk officer declines.
- Show your FTC documentation. The printed FTC Identity Theft Report and an organized evidence packet show the complaint is already documented at the federal level.
- Contact your state attorney general’s office if the department still refuses.
Even without a local police report, your FTC Identity Theft Report can serve as a valid identity theft report for many purposes under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, since the law treats a filing with any appropriate federal, state, or local law enforcement agency as qualifying, and the FTC qualifies.1Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Resources Some creditors and businesses still specifically ask for a police report, which is why obtaining one remains worthwhile.
Tax-Related Identity Theft Needs an Extra Step
If someone filed a fraudulent tax return using your Social Security number, the police report alone isn’t enough. File IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) directly with the IRS, explaining how the identity theft affected your tax account, when you became aware of it, and the relevant dates.5Internal Revenue Service. Identity Theft Affidavit Attach a copy of your police report or FTC Identity Theft Report as supporting documentation. The IRS will assign your case to a specialist and issue an Identity Protection PIN to prevent future fraudulent filings.