Identity theft affects millions of people every year, causing serious and sometimes devastating financial, psychological, and reputational injury. By providing timely and effective assistance, law enforcement can assist in limiting the harm for victims and help begin the recovery process. Agencies should respond to identity theft complaints with the goal of helping victims regain their pre-crime status. This response may include recording identity theft complaints; providing victims with necessary information; and working with other federal, state, and local law enforcement and reporting agencies, as well as financial institutions to solve identity theft cases.

These documents provide law enforcement agencies with protocols for completing identity theft reports, investigating identity theft, and preparing cases for identity theft prosecution, where appropriate.