Q&A
Process for filing complaints and obtaining police reports for identity theft
1:21:41
·
5 min
Council Member Salaam inquires about the process for filing complaints and obtaining police reports for identity theft cases. NYPD officials explain the simplified procedure and what information is provided to victims.
- Victims can file complaints at any NYPD precinct, housing, or transit location
- No specific documents are required to initiate a complaint, but any available evidence is welcomed
- NYPD officers assist in filling out complaint reports
- Victims receive a simplified 'receipt' of their complaint, which is sufficient for financial institutions
- The process is designed to be as simple as possible for victims
Yusef Salaam
1:21:41
Well, I said off off Mike, I said, my gosh.
1:21:48
You know, identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America.
1:21:51
And we have heard concerns that victims sometimes struggle to navigate the process of filing complaints with the NYPD and receiving copies of police reports to provide creditors when they suspect that they have been victims of identity theft.
1:22:06
Can you walk us through the process for an individual to file a complaint with the NYPD when they suspect their identity has been stolen or have been the victim of fraud or related cybercrime.
1:22:18
And also, what information must individuals provide to officers to initiate the process of filing a criminal complaint?
1:22:24
And producing a police report.
Julie Morrill
1:22:27
Hello.
1:22:28
We want to keep this as simple as possible.
1:22:31
Just come in bring in whatever they already have if they have any kind of bank records or phone records or copies of anything.
1:22:40
We would love to see it.
1:22:42
They don't need it.
1:22:43
They can come in, and they will be taken care of in our complaint room, in all of our customer facing locations.
1:22:50
That's every precinct housing in transit.
1:22:53
Location city wide.
1:22:54
They can just walk in and someone will help them and help them walk through the process.
1:23:00
That's how they get started.
1:23:02
Any other information we need, we will we will figure out what it is that we're going to need from them later, and it will be taken care of through the investigative process.
Yusef Salaam
1:23:12
And so I'm assuming that in terms of, like, the forms themselves, maybe the process, especially with all the adults, is to help them fill out these particular documents.
1:23:22
Sometimes it's a lot just to navigate those steps of things.
1:23:26
I'm assuming that that's
Julie Morrill
1:23:28
As far as filling out our complaint reports, we actually fill out our complaint reports.
1:23:33
Our lost or and property form is the only form that we ask that the complainants fill out themselves, and we can always walk them through it.
1:23:40
And anybody who refuses to fill out the lost or stolen property form still gets a complaint.
1:23:46
Or or for whatever reason, cannot.
1:23:48
I you know, if if there's any reason why they can't fill out the form themselves, they don't have to.
1:23:55
It's not required.
Yusef Salaam
1:23:57
Do these forms require individuals to track down additional information or documents from other third party sources?
Julie Morrill
1:24:06
There's no part of the process that requires them to perform the steps for us.
1:24:11
We do whatever we can together.
1:24:14
In the initial interview, we will take whatever evidence they have or they can bring in.
1:24:19
In a lot of cases, some of those scenarios we've discussed right here, there isn't anything to bring with you whenever someone broke your roof.
1:24:26
Right?
1:24:26
We would expect them if they can just to come in.
1:24:29
And if they can't come in, dial 911, and we will come to you.
1:24:32
Wherever you are, you're home, or wherever you wanna make the complaint from, we will meet them there, and we will take their complaint there.
Yusef Salaam
1:24:42
In receiving valid police reports and documents alleged fraud or identity theft, our vital for victims to provide to creditors seeking judgment for debts and individuals may not have may may for debts and individual may have I'm not sure if this is written correctly.
1:25:07
Can you walk us through the process for an individual to receive a valid police report?
1:25:11
Assuming that this happens after a complaint has been filed correctly.
1:25:16
What is the internal process for the NYPD produce a valid police report and is this done at each precinct or centralized at one police plaza.
1:25:25
And do officers or civilian staff have to gather any additional information or conduct any investigation before producing a police report.
1:25:35
And, also, lastly, how long does it typically take to provide civilians with valid police reports?
Julie Morrill
1:25:43
Okay.
1:25:43
Well, help is quite the compound question, but I am gonna try to simplify this answer as much as possible.
1:25:49
We don't actually release the entirety of any complaint report.
1:25:53
We give what is roughly a receipt of having made a complaint.
1:25:58
It is a much more simplified sheet.
1:26:02
It's something that you can give.
1:26:03
It doesn't have all of your information on it, for instance, and it doesn't have all of the start of our investigative questions on it.
1:26:11
It looks much more like a receipt.
1:26:13
They can request that online or they can request that at the at the station house and receive that.
1:26:20
It it it's available through our website that you can apply to get 1 or you can come into the into the same place where you major and get that copy.
Yusef Salaam
1:26:31
I just wanna also recognize that we've been joined by Council member's banks, Joseph and Schulman.
Julie Morrill
1:26:39
Oh, if I could just add also and that's all they need.
1:26:42
That's all that their financial institutions are looking for.
1:26:46
That's all a credit card institution is looking for.
1:26:49
The that receipt that we give is is what they need.
1:26:52
We're not withholding anything, and they don't need any more than that.
1:26:55
To make their to make their complaints to their financial institutions.
Yusef Salaam
1:27:00
Does the NYPD do anything to help ensure reporting identity theft is not overburdened some or to assist people who wish to file identity theft police report.
1:27:11
Like, what information or guidance is available to the public on how to navigate the process of filing a complaint and receiving a police report?
