If you ever become a victim of identity theft, you may be asked to fill out a document known as an Identity Theft Report. It is not the same as a regular police report, although it is a type of police report –- and you will need the assistance of law enforcement to complete it. It provides a lot of details about the crime that was committed against you, such as which accounts have inaccurate information associated with them and what information can prove that you were a victim of the crime.
With this report filed, the three major credit bureaus in the United States will place a permanent block on any fraudulent information so that it no longer appears on your credit file and cannot be re-added later. You also need to make sure that the companies involved in the theft – such as the credit card company that opened the fraudulent account – are notified of this action and receive a copy of the report. This can help prevent them from continuing any collections action against you.
It’s important to request an Identity Theft Report while speaking with the police department about the crime committed against you. The officer can attach this report to your police report or simply incorporate the details into the original document. Be sure to mention how important getting a timely copy of this report is to your recovery. The officer may just see creating it as an administrative task that can be done at his or her leisure.
When sending the report to third parties, always use certified mail so that you can ensure that it is delivered and keep track of the date that it was mailed. Also, include a cover letter explaining what happened in your own words as well as requesting a specific action.
If you have an identity theft protection plan, a representative can assist you with every step of the process. Usually all you have to do is call the customer service number and someone will be assigned to your case. If not, try the Identity Theft Resource Center, a non-profit designed to help victims of identity theft.