How long after Identity Theft Can I File Police Report?

[Anonymous]

My Husband had his wallet stolen 5 years ago, which resulted in Identity Theft. He was young and didnt do anything about it. Someone Bulk Purchased a bunch of phones from Verizon Wireless using his name and apparantlyusing his drivers license. Verizon called him wondering if he ordered those phones, he said no, he asked for address of shipping, they wouldnt give him an address but gave him the city, a city he never lived in and had nothing to do with. Verizon did not believe him. He never finished filing the police report becuase they told him he had to drive 2.5 hours away where he lost his wallet to file the report, he never did. Now years later, he still has 1000 collection on his credit report. Were trying to deal with this now. Can we still file a police report? anyone have any suggestions. I am curious as to what social security number they used to open this verizon account.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

My Husband had his wallet stolen 5 years ago, which resulted in Identity Theft. He was young and didnt do anything about it. Someone Bulk Purchased a bunch of phones from Verizon Wireless using his name and apparantlyusing his drivers license. Verizon called him wondering if he ordered those phones, he said no, he asked for address of shipping, they wouldnt give him an address but gave him the city, a city he never lived in and had nothing to do with. Verizon did not believe him. He never finished filing the police report becuase they told him he had to drive 2.5 hours away where he lost his wallet to file the report, he never did. Now years later, he still has 1000 collection on his credit report. Were trying to deal with this now. Can we still file a police report? anyone have any suggestions. I am curious as to what social security number they used to open this verizon account.

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You can file an ID Theft report ANY TIME. There is no timeliness requirement.  I believe you can use the online report at the FTC website.

[RobertEG]

I concur with Norman.

However, you may find a very different situation when you walk into a police station and request to report a theft that occured years ago.

Their job is to investigate crime, and they may snicker at a reporting that is years old... perhaps even now beyond the relevant statute of limitations on any crime that may have occured. You may have a real problem in attempting to get them to take your report.

It might be prudent to make a copy of FCRA 605B and take it with you, explaining to the officer that you need the police report in order to enforcce your rights under the credit reporting statutes to have the information blocked from your credit report.

[StartingOver10]

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@RobertEG wrote:

I concur with Norman.

However, you may find a very different situation when you walk into a police station and request to report a theft that occured years ago.

Their job is to investigate crime, and they may snicker at a reporting that is years old... perhaps even now beyond the relevant statute of limitations on any crime that may have occured. You may have a real problem in attempting to get them to take your report.

It might be prudent to make a copy of FCRA 605B and take it with you, explaining to the officer that you need the police report in order to enforcce your rights under the credit reporting statutes to have the information blocked from your credit report.

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^^^This and make sure your husband is prepared to admit he was young and foolish and didn't realize that the effect would last for years. Now that he knows, he is taking care of business. ...