If you are a victim of identity theft it is a good idea to file a police report with the Tiverton Police Department that gives specific details of the theft. This report gives you certain legal rights when you provide it to either the company where the thief misused your information or the three major credit reporting agencies. Before you complete the police report in person at the police station, it’s a good idea to complete an Identity Theft Packet and bring it with you so you have all of the information you need on hand.
Although you may not need a police report if you are able to work out the details of the theft with your company or provider, you will need one if a new account has been opened in your name, if fraudulent charges have been reported to consumer reporting agencies, or if you would like to receive copies of the thief’s application and transactional information from the companies that dealt with them.
The officer or detective working with you can include your Identity Theft Packet in their report for added details. You can obtain a copy of the official police report, and keep a copy of the police report number. To obtain a copy of a police report, please go to our Public Records Page.
Helpful Hints:
- Remember that each creditor has different policies and procedures for correcting fraudulent accounts.
- Do not provide originals and be sure to keep copies of everything you provide to the creditors or companies involved in the identity theft.
- Write down all dates, times, and the names of individuals you speak to regarding the identity theft and correction of your credit.
Steps:
Step 1: Contact your bank and other credit card issuers.
If the theft involved existing bank accounts (checking or savings accounts as well as credit or debit card) you should do the following:
- Close the account that was used fraudulently or put stop payments on all outstanding checks that might have been written without your knowledge.
- Close all credit card accounts that were used fraudulently.
- Close any account accessible by debit card if it has been accessed fraudulently.
- Open up new accounts protected with a secret password or personal identification number (PIN). If identity theft involved the creation of new bank accounts, you should do the following:
- Call the involved financial institution and notify them of the identity theft.
- They will likely require additional notification in writing.
Step 2: Contact all three (3) major credit reporting bureaus.
First request the credit bureaus place a “Fraud Alert” on your file. A fraud alert will put a notice on your credit report that you have been the victim of identity theft. Merchants and financial institutions may opt to contact you directly before any new credit is taken out in your name. Some states allow for a Security Freeze in which a PIN can be designated on your credit file and subsequently the PIN must then be given in order for credit to be extended. Ask the credit reporting bureaus if your state is participating in the Security Freeze Program.
Step 3: File a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
CLICK HERE to go on-line to file an identity theft complaint with the FTC or call 1-877-IDTHEFT.
Step 4: Contact creditors involved in the Identity Theft by phone and in writing.
This step involves contacting all the companies or institutions that provided credit or opened new accounts for the suspect or suspects. Some examples include banks, mortgage companies, utility companies, telephone companies, cell phone companies, etc. Provide the creditors with the completed
Identity Theft Affidavit (some may require that you use their own affidavit), Letter of Dispute, and a copy of the FACTA Law (all contained in the Identity Theft Packet).
Step 5: Submit the Identity Theft Affidavit AND copies of all information and records obtained from the creditors with regard to the fraudulent accounts to Tiverton Police Department, 20 Industrial Way, Tiverton, RI 02878 (Attention Investigating Officer/Detective)
The Tiverton Police Department Identity Theft Packet is for you to keep and contains information to assist you in the correction of your credit and to help ensure that you are not responsible for the debts incurred by the identity thief. In addition, this packet includes information that will allow you to obtain financial records related to the fraudulent accounts and provide those records to law enforcement, without which we cannot conduct an investigation for prosecution. We recognize that some victims are only interested in the correction of their credit and do not necessarily wish for prosecution; therefore, we request that you only submit this packet to Tiverton Police Department if you desire prosecution. It is important to understand that in the event that a suspect is identified and arrested and the case proceeds to court, you as the victim would most likely be required to appear and testify in court.