How to Report Identity Theft to Your Local Police Department: A Step-by-Step Guide

Honestly, getting your identity swiped these days? Not even a surprise. All it takes is some jerk with your Social Security number or your Netflix password, and boom—your financial life’s on fire. If you think some scammer’s been pretending to be you, don’t just sit there and stress-eat. You gotta move fast, and—yep—you actually need to tell the police. 

Here’s how to do it without losing your mind.

Why Even Bother Telling the Police?

Let’s get this out of the way: Reporting to the cops isn’t just for show. You need a paper trail. That police report is your “get out of fraud jail free” card. Banks and credit card companies love official paperwork. It helps you:

• Prove you’re not the one out there buying jet skis in Ohio.
• Actually get your money or credit back.
• Cover your own butt if the thief goes and does something even dumber using your name.
• Show the IRS, credit bureaus, or whoever else keeps hassling you, that you’re not the bad guy.

Step 1: Make Sure You’re Actually a Victim

Don’t call 911 because you lost your wallet at Chili’s. Check for real signs of trouble, like:

• Weird charges on your bank account.
• Letters about accounts you never opened.
• Random credit checks popping up.
• Bills from companies you’ve never heard of.

Pull your credit reports (yeah, from all three—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Use AnnualCreditReport.com. If you see stuff that makes your eyebrows hit your hairline, congrats: It’s time to sound the alarms.

Step 2: File With the FTC (Seriously, Do This First)

Wild, right? You’d think the cops would be first, but in the U.S., the FTC is the real MVP for identity theft. Go to https://www.identitytheft.gov, spill your guts, and get:

1. A complaint on record.
2. A step-by-step recovery plan (so you’re not just flailing).
3. An official Identity Theft Report, which everyone and their grandma will ask for later.

Important: You’ll need this for, like, every conversation you have about this nightmare.

• Scared that you aren't that tech-savvy?

• Want to watch a video walk-through? 

• These videos show you how it's done and if your city isn't listed yet, just replace that part of the video with a Google Search of your local Police Department and Wham - Done! 

 Step 3: Collect Your Proof

You can’t just walk in and say, “Trust me, bro.” Bring backup:

• That FTC report you just filled out.
• Some kind of government ID (no, your Blockbuster card doesn’t count).
• Proof you live where you say you live—a utility bill, lease, whatever.
• Any evidence of the scam—bank statements, angry letters, screenshots, all of it.

Pro Tip: The more receipts, the better. Cops love documentation.

 Step 4: Go Tell the Police

Alright, now you’re ready to talk to your local law enforcement. Here’s how you can do it:

1. In-person: Honestly, just show up at the police station. That way you can explain things face-to-face and maybe get a little sympathy.
2. By phone: Some places are cool with you calling it in. Give your local department a ring and see what they say.
3.  Online: Welcome to the future. Some departments let you fill out a report on their website. Check first to see if this is a thing where you live.

Don’t forget: Always ask for a copy of the report or at least the report number. You’ll need this to fight bogus charges and convince your bank you’re not out here buying diamond-encrusted dog collars.

Pro Tip: If you get any kind of push back about filing a Police Report, use this Memo to Law Enforcement from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Step 5: Warn Everyone Else

You’re not done yet. Now you get to play phone tag with everyone you’ve ever had an account with:

• Credit bureaus: Set up a fraud alert or just freeze your credit. Make it way harder for anyone to do more damage.
• Your banks and credit cards: Call them up, shut down or freeze anything suspicious.
• The IRS: If your Social Security number’s been jacked, let them know before your tax return gets hijacked.
• Your boss: Yep, even work should know, especially if your paycheck info could be at risk.

Last Bit of Advice

No sugar-coating: This process sucks, but you have to do it. The faster you jump into action, the better your odds of not getting stuck with someone else’s mess. Report it to the cops, follow the steps, and keep every scrap of paperwork. You’ll be back in control before you know it.

So, if you even *think* someone’s out there pretending to be you—don’t wait. Seriously. Get on it.