Identity Theft Cases - How to Report Them

There's been a large increase in the number of reported cases of identity theft in recent years. At first, since identity theft is a fairly recent phenomenen, law enforcement was not sure how to best handle these. However, there are now many efforts in progress to ensure that the proper law enforcement agencies are involved in the resolution of identity theft cases. These efforts also include processing these cases in a manner that allows the victim to take the action necessary to regain their identity.

When reporting identity theft, one of the first places to go is to the credit bureaus. This is very important inasmuch as it keeps the thief from obtaining new accounts under your name. It's not necessary to notify all the credit bureaus. If you report an identity theft case to one of the credit bureaus, that bureau will be responsible for contacting the other two.

Early detection is key with identity theft - Protect yourself now!

It is also vital that you report a case of identity theft to the applicable law enforcement agencies. Victims of identity theft should obtain a police report from their local police department or the police department of the location where the theft occurred. Should the police department not wish to take the report for any reason, you can contact the county or state police organization. The state attorney general should be able to provide information as to the laws regarding that state’s procedure for reporting identity theft cases.

Finally, be sure to report identity theft cases to the Federal Trade Commission, or the FTC. This agency can assist in a number of ways. Not only can they provide information about the proper steps that you need to take, they will also work to make sure that any involved companies are abiding by laws governing cases of identity theft. Remember, in order to minimize the effects of identity theft on your life, it's important to report the incident to all the necessary agencies.