Welcome to the Verizon Fraud Prevention resource page

Identity theft can impact anyone. And while it's difficult to fully protect yourself, there are steps you can take to lower your risk for identity theft.
Verizon is dedicated to protection against identity theft.
Verizon is dedicated to protecting consumers and businesses from identity theft. In the unfortunate event that your identity has been stolen and used to initiate unauthorized Verizon, Verizon Wireless, or FIOS services, we have provided the ability to file a claim online.
Here's what you can expect:
  • Answer a few questions about yourself and the unauthorized account(s).
  • Upload paperwork that supports your claim.
  • Receive a call from a Verizon Fraud specialist for clarification and to notify you of the status of your claim. This takes approximately 2 business days.
For more information on identity theft, please visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/privacy-identity
Taking steps to prevent identity theft can greatly reduce the chances of becoming a victim.
Below are a few suggestions for protecting yourself online and offline.
  1. Shred all documents containing Personally Identifying Information such as your Social Security Number, your credit card or account numbers, even your middle name. This can include bank or credit card statements, pre-approval letters, or utility bills. If you aren't sure, shred it before discarding it. Use locked filing cabinet or a document safe for important documents that you want to keep.
  2. Protect all of your online passwords. Don't store them on paper or in unsecured files.
  3. Be cautious when showing personally identifying information on social media sites.
  4. Be wary of callers that are providing you information on your account and then ask you to provide basic account information.
  5. Validate promotional offers with the company before logging into your online account to accept them. For example, if you get an email promising a $30 bill credit of your wireless bill, do some research online to see if it's a scam. When in doubt, contact the company directly to validate the offer.
  6. Secure your internet connection. Using public wifi connections may place you at risk for a fraudster to obtain the information stored on your computer or smartphone.
  7. Regularly monitor your credit report for unusual or unauthorized activity. Many sites offer a free credit report for a promise to subscribe to additional services. Under the Fair Credit Act, you are entitled to a free credit report from the reporting agencies.
For more information on identity theft, please visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/privacy-identity
Fraud Terminology
There are several different phrases that you may hear in relation to fraud. See the below glossary to help navigate the conversation about fraud.
  • Cramming - The FCC defines cramming as the practice of placing unauthorized, misleading or deceptive charges on your telephone bill. Crammers attempt to trick consumers into paying for services they did not authorize or receive, or that cost more than the consumer was led to believe. For more information on cramming, please visit our Support Page on
    http://www.verizon.com/Support/Residential/phone/homephone/my+verizon/customer+rights+and+safety/customer/95449.htm
  • Fraud - The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners defines fraud as a knowing misrepresentation of the truth or concealment. Fraud can encompass any crime that uses deception as its principal mode of operation.
  • Phishing - use of email to socially engineer a victim. Typically a phishing email will look exactly like an email from a trusted source, but will direct the recipient to 'log in' or 'call back' or otherwise access their secured accounts for the purpose of obtaining access to those accounts. These emails typically offer credits or rewards as a "limited time offer".
  • Social Engineering - the act of one person using deception to influence another. Typically used to obtain information that can be used to impersonate the victim for the purpose of using his/her identity to commit fraud.
Fraud Scams & Trends
For more information on scams impacting Verizon customers, please visit our Security pages at: http://www.verizon.com/pages/securityalerts/
For more information on identity theft, please visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/privacy-identity
Before We Start, Here is what you will need:

Consumer

  • Proof of Identity (Must be current)
    A digital copy of a government issued form of identification can be transmitted by scanning them to your hard drive and uploading to the website.
  • Proof of residence for the period of time the event occurred
    Proof of residence is official documentation of the address during the time the account was set up. This helps us validate you as the true person and we can compare this record to the account itself. Document examples include: lease or mortgage agreement in your name or a dated utility bill for the address in your name. A utility bill can be any public service (ie. water, electricity, cable, and phone).
  • Copy of filed Police Report detailing the identity theft
    Identity theft is a crime. Prior to filing a claim for identity theft, you should contact your local police department and file a report. If you know who used your identity, you must provide that information. It is our policy to cooperate with law enforcement in the course of their legal investigation regarding identity theft. You will need to provide a copy of this report in order to complete your claim.
* All documents must be submitted in uneditable format (ie., jpeg, png, gif or pdf)

Business/ Corporate

Corporations, small businesses, and non-profits: Two forms of ID are required, one of which must be a government issued photo ID of the authorized party. The second can be from the list below:
  • Business License
    Must be valid and current.
  • Registry of a non-profit organization
    Issued by the Attorney General.
  • Notarized business lease
    Proof of address is official documentation of your business's main address. This helps us to validate your business against the account.
  • Articles of Incorporation
    Only the first 3 pages are needed.
  • Certificate of good standing/formation
    Issued by Secretary of State. Go to website to validate first. If not active on SOS a letter will need to be provided showing an update was requested.
  • Copy of filed Police Report detailing the identity theft
    Identity theft is a crime. Prior to filing a claim for identity theft, you should contact your local police department and file a report. If you know who used your identity, you must provide that information. It is our policy to cooperate with law enforcement in the course of their legal investigation regarding identity theft. You will need to provide a copy of this report in order to complete your claim.
* All documents must be submitted in uneditable format (ie., jpeg, png, gif or pdf)
  • Fraud report must be factual
  • Understand the laws of filing, manipulating or falsifying a police report in your state or local jurisdiction.
  • Documentation requests are not optional. We need proof of your claim.
  • I understand that by filing a claim of identity theft that I am requesting Verizon to investigate all of my accounts for unauthorized use of my personal identifying information.
  • I certify that the information I have provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge and I permit Verizon, or agents working on Verizon's behalf to contact me regarding my claim.
  • I acknowledge that all of my information is secure and may be encrypted for transmission.
  • I understand that filing a false police report is a crime and Verizon is not responsible for actions taken by law enforcement entities as a result of our investigation and the evidence provided in the detainment or prosecution of individuals related to this claim.
  • For the best experience filing your claim, we recommend using a PC by visiting www.verizonwireless.com/fraud. Would you like to continue now on your mobile device?