Identity theft is the most common type of fraud in the United States.  The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) created a way for Minnesota law enforcement to access and contribute data on victims of identity theft to the FBI's Identity Theft File. This makes it easier for law enforcement to distinguish between a person who is perpetrating identity theft and their victim. While the victim may still be pulled over through a felony stop, this information will allow law enforcement to determine that the subject is, in fact, the victim.

For law enforcement

You can learn more about how the identity theft access function works by referring to the NCIC Operating Manual - Identity Theft section; the NCIC Code Manual - Personal Descriptor Codes section; or by viewing the Identity Theft File online training in nexTEST.

For identity theft victims

When a victim of identity theft comes to a law enforcement agency to report the crime, they will be asked to provide information that will help law enforcement identify them as the victim, both at the time the report is filed, and in future encounters with law enforcement. To prevent that information from becoming public, law enforcement agencies are encouraged to fill out a security information declaration. The victim will also be asked to sign a consent form and a social security number disclosure form.

Reporting the crime to police is just one step crime victims must take. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs provides much more information on what to do if you become the victim of identity theft.