How to Report Identity Theft: The 3 Free Reports That Protect You
FTC, Postal Inspectors, and Police — step by step. All three reports are free. Most can be done from home in minutes.
You can do this. It’s free — and it works.
Discovering that someone stole your identity is stressful. But reporting it is free, mostly online, and gives you real legal power — not just a paper trail. Once you file these reports, federal law gives you the right to block fraudulent accounts from your credit, stop debt collectors, and get extended fraud protection. This guide walks you through every step.
The three reports work together. The FTC report is your foundation — it unlocks your strongest credit rights. A postal report covers any mail-related fraud and is a federal crime report in its own right. The police report, combined with your FTC affidavit, creates a complete “Identity Theft Report” with the highest legal weight with bureaus and creditors.
File an FTC Identity Theft Report
15–20 minutes online
Full guide
Report mail theft or change-of-address fraud
If any mail was involved
Full guide
File a police report
Bring your FTC affidavit
Full guide
Step 1 — File an FTC Identity Theft Report (start here)
The first thing to do — before anything else — is file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. You can also call 1-877-438-4338 (1-877-ID-THEFT) if you prefer the phone.
Why it’s quick and easy
The FTC report is free and takes about 15–20 minutes online. If you create an account, IdentityTheft.gov walks you through every recovery step, pre-fills the dispute letters and forms you need for businesses, tracks your progress, and updates your personalized recovery plan as things change. You can come back to it anytime.
What it gives you
The FTC report produces an official Identity Theft Report — a legal document that proves to businesses someone stole your identity. That document triggers powerful federal rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act:
- ✓Permanently block fraudulent accounts and information from your credit reports — generally within 4 business days (FCRA § 1681c-2)
- ✓Keep that fraudulent information from ever reappearing on your report
- ✓Stop debt collectors from collecting or selling identity-theft debts
- ✓Get an extended 7-year fraud alert on your credit file
The FTC’s 3-step recovery plan
- 1Call the companies where fraud occurred and report the theft.
- 2Place a free fraud alert with one bureau — it must notify the other two — and get your free credit reports.
- 3Report to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov to create your official report and recovery plan.
Step 2 — Report to the Postal Inspectors and your Postmaster (if mail was involved)
When to use this report
If a thief stole mail from your mailbox, intercepted new credit cards or account statements, or filed a fraudulent change-of-address form in your name, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Change-of-address fraud has surged dramatically — cases jumped from about 8,857 in 2020 to more than 23,606 in 2021 — because historically, USPS required little identity verification to file a change. Report promptly if you suspect it.
How to report
- •Online (easiest): File at mailtheft.uspis.gov — select “Identity Theft” or go directly to the identity theft / fraudulent change-of-address form.
- •Phone: Call 1-877-876-2455 and press 4 to report mail fraud.
- •Local post office: Contact your Postmaster directly if mail has stopped arriving or you suspect an unauthorized address change was filed at your branch.
- •Online report portal: uspis.gov/report
Why it helps
Mail theft and fraudulent change-of-address filings are federal crimes investigated by U.S. Postal Inspectors. Filing a report can stop mail interception immediately and creates an official record that corroborates your FTC report and police report — strengthening your case with credit bureaus and creditors.
Step 3 — File a police report
Why it matters
When you combine your FTC Identity Theft affidavit with a police report, you have a complete “Identity Theft Report.” That combination carries the most legal weight with credit bureaus and creditors. It can permanently block fraudulent information, stop it from reappearing, halt collection activity, and qualify you for an extended 7-year fraud alert.
⚠️ Tip: File your FTC report first
Many police departments ask to see your FTC Identity Theft Report/affidavit before taking a report. Complete Step 1 first, then bring the printed FTC affidavit to the police station.
What to bring
- •Your printed FTC Identity Theft Report / affidavit
- •A government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
- •Proof of your address (utility bill, lease, or recent account statement)
- •Evidence of the theft: fraudulent account statements, collection notices, IRS notices, credit report pages with disputed items circled, or screenshots of scam messages
Step by step
- 1Go to your local police department (or the department where the theft occurred if you know the location).
- 2Present your documents to the officer taking the report.
- 3Before you leave, get a copy of the police report AND the report number.
- 4Attach the police report to your FTC affidavit. Together, these two documents form your complete Identity Theft Report.
Put it all together — your complete checklist
Download this guide as a PDF
Print it, keep it handy, or share it. All links are shown as full URLs so they work on paper.
While you work through these steps, don’t forget to pull your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com so you know exactly what fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name.
Fraudulent accounts on your credit report? We can help.
If you have filed reports and bureaus are still refusing to remove fraudulent accounts, the FCRA gives you additional rights — including the right to sue. Contact our consumer-protection attorneys to discuss your situation. There is no fee unless we recover money for you.
Contact an FCRA attorneyThis page provides general information only and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this page.