Iowa Attorney General, Tom Miller

Crime Victim Assistance Division

Identity Theft Passport

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing consumer crimes in the country, and one of the most difficult to resolve once it takes place. Identity theft affects nearly ten million Americans each year, and Iowans are not immune. The Iowa Attorney General's Office, Crime Victim Assistance Division has tools available to help victims of identity theft address their problems and protect their identity.

Identity theft occurs when a thief steals a person's confidential information and uses this information to obtain false driver's licenses, utility services, credit cards, loans, government benefits, merchandise, and more. Stolen identities can be used to commit crimes and defraud consumers. Identity thieves can obtain your personal information by:

Stealing wallets and purses, mail, bank or credit card statements, pre-approved credit card offers, or personal records;
Changing Your Address and diverting your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form;
Dumpster Diving to rummage through your trash looking for bills or other paperwork with your personal information;
Phishing by sending emails that appear to be from legitimate businesses aimed at obtaining personal information;
Skimming by stealing your credit card or debit card number using a special storage device while processing your card.
Pretexting by using false pretenses to obtain your information from your bank, utility company, or even you.

Identity Theft Passport

The Identity Theft Passport Act established by Iowa Code §715A.9A provides victims of identity theft with a way to substantiate the crime to creditors and law enforcement. If you have been the victim of identity theft, you have a new way to fight back to reclaim your identity.

Uses of Identity Theft Passports

Victims of identity theft can present their ID Theft Passport to law enforcement agencies to help prevent their arrest for offenses committed by a person whop stole their identity. The ID TheftPassport may also be presented to creditors to aid in the investigation of fraudulent charges and to consumer reporting agencies as an official notice of disputed charges on credit reports.

Who Can Apply

Individuals who are a victim of identity theft that occurred in Iowa may apply. A law enforcement report must be filed with the local law enforcement agency before eligibility may be determined for an ID Theft Passport. An ID Theft Passport will not be issued for instances of mistaken identity or loss of documents containing identifying information.

How to Apply

To receive the ID Passport, a victim of identity theft must complete the following:

Report the crime of identity theft to the local law enforcement agency;
Make sure that the law enforcement agency files a criminal report;
Complete the Application for Identity Theft Passport at the time the report is made; and

Provide documentation to support the claim of identity theft including but not limited to:

	Receipts or bills from creditors showing unauthorized use of credit cards;
	Utility accounts created using the applicant’s name without permission;
	Evidence that the identity has been used without consent to commit a crime

Provide a current photograph from:

	Copy of a current driver license or state-issued non-operator identification card;
	Copy of a current US Passport; or
	A current photograph of the victim that is certified as valid by signature of the law enforcement investigator who received the report of identity theft.

The law enforcement agency will forward your application to the Identity Theft Passport Program (IDPP) of the Crime Victim Assistance Division with the law enforcement report and verification form. The IDPP staff will determine whether the claim is adequately substantiated before issuing an Identity Theft Passport.

Identity Theft Passport Program Forms

Click here to download a PDF Application for Identity Theft Passport.
Click here to download a PDF Law Enforcement Verification form.

How Long Will it Take to Receive Passport

It may take up to 14 days to determine the IDPP applicant’s eligibility. Once eligibility is determined, applicants will be notified of the eligibility decision in writing. If approved, applicants will receive their Identity Theft Passport with the notice along with information about the use, expiration, and replacement of the Passport.

Expiration

An ID Theft Passport will be valid for a period of five (5) years from the date issued or renewed. An identity theft victim whose ID Theft Passport is about to expire or has expired may apply for renewal of the ID Theft Passport 30 calendar days before or after the expiration date on the ID Theft Passport.