Reporting Identity Theft in Different Countries
Where to report identity theft in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the EU, India, Ghana and elsewhere, what to have ready, and who else to tell.
Reporting identity theft creates an official record, helps you dispute fraudulent accounts and debts, and adds to the information authorities use to catch criminals. Here is where to report in several countries and what to have ready.
Where to report
| Where you are | Where to report |
|---|---|
| United States | IdentityTheft.gov, run by the Federal Trade Commission, creates a report and a personal recovery plan. Contact the credit bureaus for freezes or fraud alerts. |
| United Kingdom | England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. Scotland: Police Scotland on 101. Consider Cifas protective registration. |
| Canada | Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, 1-888-495-8501, and your local police. |
| Australia | ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au, and Scamwatch for scams. |
| European Union | Your national police or cybercrime service; Europol lists national reporting sites. |
| India | National Cybercrime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in, and helpline 1930 for financial fraud. |
| Ghana | Cyber Security Authority: 292, WhatsApp 0501603111, report@csa.gov.gh; Ghana Police Service 18555 or 191. |
| Elsewhere | Your police and national cybercrime or consumer protection agency. |
Contact details change from time to time; check official websites for current information.
Who else to tell
- The organizations where your identity was misused. See account opened in my name.
- Your bank and mobile network.
- Credit bureaus or reference agencies. See credit freezes explained.
- The issuer of any stolen document, such as the passport office.
- Your tax authority if tax or benefit fraud is involved. See tax identity fraud.
What to have ready
- Your ID and contact details.
- Details of fraudulent accounts, transactions or letters.
- Dates you noticed and actions you took.
- Your log. See keeping a log.
Beware of follow-up calls from people claiming to handle your report and asking for fees or passwords. Official services do not do this.
Received a message about your report? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
For the full process, see how to recover a taken-over account in our complete guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a police report for identity theft?
It depends on the country and the organizations involved. Some lenders and credit bureaus ask for an official report or reference number. Your national service will advise.
Who should I contact first?
The organizations where your identity was misused, such as the bank or lender, then your national identity theft or fraud reporting service.
What if my country is not listed?
Start with your police and your bank, and look for a national cybercrime or consumer protection agency on official government websites.
Sources
- IdentityTheft.gov, US Federal Trade Commission
- Protective Registration, Cifas (UK)
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Government of Canada
- Report a scam, Scamwatch, Australian Government
- National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, Government of India
- Report cybercrime online, Europol
