Identity Theft Reports

• Identity theft reports are used to make agencies aware that your identity is being used by someone else. It is very important to have an identity theft report completed, as this report will be used to remove bad entries from your credit report and provide proof to others that you are a victim of identity theft. An identity theft report is considered a report that is made with a law enforcement agency. The report starts the process of notifying additional agencies.
  
  

Police Station

• Your first step in the identity theft reporting process is to contact your local police department. You will be required to provide all details and proof as to why you believe you are a victim of identity theft. The police department will prepare a police report that you will keep for your records and to provide to other agencies.
  
  

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• You will need to contact the FTC to report the identity theft, as well. You may be asked to provide a copy of your police report to substantiate your claim. The FTC tracks this information and can also provide you with names and numbers of other companies that can provide you assistance in the identity theft reporting process.
  
  

Credit Bureaus

• Contact all three of the major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Ask to speak to someone in the fraud department. Give the agent all the information regarding your identity theft, and provide a copy of the police report. The agent will go over your credit report with you, begin an investigation on all items that are not yours and place an alert on the account to prevent future unauthorized access to your credit file.
  
  

Follow Up

• Depending on the nature of your situation, you may have to close bank accounts, notify your local Department of Motor Vehicles, the Social Security Administration and any other agency that controls an area you believe may have been compromised by the identity theft.