What should I do if I believe I have been a victim of Internet fraud?

PBSO2022-05-12T14:07:51-04:00

If you live in Unincorporated Palm Beach County; a contracted Municipality or the crime occurred in unincorporated Palm Beach County you can file a report with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.  All other incidents need to be reported to the municipality in which the incident occurred.

You should also report any Internet Fraud to the Internet Complaint Center, which is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). You can call them at (800) 251-3221 or go to www.ic3.gov.

What happens after I file a Criminal Report?

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Generally, the report will be reviewed a determination will be made if follow up investigation will result in a successful prosecution. At that point a Detective will be assigned to the case.

My tag was lost or stolen, what do I do now?

PBSO2022-05-12T14:08:45-04:00

First, contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency at 561-688-3400. A dispatcher will take your information and have an ARU Specialist contact you. After filing a report you can call the tax collectors office to schedule an appointment and/or visit any of the tax collectors offices in Palm Beach County by going to any of the locations listed below. Remember to bring your Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office case number with you when going to replace your tag.

Tax collectors offices are located at the following addresses:

• 200 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach, Fl. 33411
• 4215 S. Military Trail, Lake Worth 33463
• 501 S. Congress Ave. Delray Beach, Fl.   33435
• 3188 P.G.A. Blvd. Palm Beach Gardens , Fl. 33410
• 2976 State Rd. 15, Belle Glade, Fl.  33430
• 301 N. Olive Ave. West Palm Beach , Fl. 33401 (1st & 3rd Floor)

You can reach the Tax Collectors Office by calling: 561 355-2622

How do I obtain a copy of my report?

Krysti DeMario2023-04-05T11:59:55-04:00

Go to the Central Records page.  Select Online Records Request (GovQA) page, Follow the directions on the Public Records Portal Page to obtain your record.

What should I do if I believe I am a victim of I.D. theft?

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First, if you live in Palm Beach County or a PBSO Contracted Municipality, file a report with the Sheriff’s Office or your local police agency if you live in a non-contracted Palm Beach County municipality. Or, if you are not a resident of Palm Beach County but you have information that identity theft occurred in Palm Beach County, you can also file a report at the respective agency to where the incident occurred.

Next, you should replace all passcodes and add fraud alerts to all your accounts through the Credit Reporting BureausThen, you should file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. Visit them online at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.

You can also find a wealth of information on the Florida Attorney Generals website. Identity Theft Victim Kit’s are available from the Attorney General of Florida. http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/CBBEBA3F2583433385256DBA004BC600?OpenDocument

What if I find my stolen property at Pawnshop?

PBSO2022-05-12T14:10:40-04:00

You may consider checking the pawnshops/second-hand dealers in your area for your belongings.

• Pawned items must be held for 30 calendar days. (With probable cause to believe the property in possession of a pawnbroker is stolen, law enforcement may place a written hold on the property for 90 days.)
• Items acquired by a second-hand dealer must be held for 15 calendar days. (With probable cause to believe the property in possession of a pawnbroker is stolen, law enforcement may place a written hold on the property for 60 days.)
• While on hold, the pawnshop/second-hand dealer should not have those items on display. You may not see your stolen belongings. If any of your belongings are found in a pawnshop/second-hand dealer you may attempt to get them back by notifying the pawnbroker/second-hand dealer by certified mail, return receipt requested, or in person with a signed claim to the goods. The claim must contain a detailed description of the goods and must be accompanied by a copy of the police report on the misappropriation of the goods.
• If notifying the pawnshop/second-hand dealer to obtain your personal belongings doesn't work, you can begin the legal process for getting your property returned. During this process the police may confiscate the property or place a hold on it. This will give you time to file a replevin petition with the clerk of the court. Identifiable serial numbers, etchings on property and receipts are helpful during this process. The only alternative to this court process is to buy the item back from the pawnshop/second-hand dealer

What happens if I lose my U.S.A. Passport or it is stolen?

PBSO2022-05-12T14:11:21-04:00

First, call the U.S. Department of State at either one of these numbers listed below to report your passport lost or stolen:

• (202) 955-0487
• (202) 955-0488
• (202) 955-0292
• (202) 955-0430

Also, you can apply for a new passport. To learn more contact the National Passport Information Center at: (877) 487-2778 or visit http://travel.state.gov/passports

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office does not take reports on lost or stolen passports with the exception of:

If your passport is foreign you must provide the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office with a written request from your Country’s Consulate or Embassy. The written request must be brought in person to the Sheriff’s office on Gun Club Rd. or any sub-station. The letter must be on Consulate or Embassy letterhead and MUST have a raised seal.

What should I do if I lose my driver’s license?

PBSO2022-05-12T14:13:51-04:00

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office will take a report on a lost drivers’ license. For more information you can call:

Phone: (561) 355-2264

Or Visit these Service Center Locations:

Delray Beach Address: 501 S Congress Ave Delray Beach, Fl 33445

Glades  Address: 2976 State Rd 15 Belle Glade, Fl 33430

WPB Downtown Address: 301 N. Olive Ave, West Palm Beach, Fl 33401

Central Palm Beach Address: 4215 S. Military Trl. Lake Worth, Fl 33463

Royal Palm Beach  Address: 200 Civic Center Way Royal Palm Beach, Fl 33411

To make an appointment online go to: http://oasis.hsmv.state.fl.us/

You can also visit https://express.hsmv.state.fl.us/Express_Lane/ to obtain a new license online.

Is my report public record?

PBSO2022-05-12T14:14:12-04:00

Generally, yes your report is public record subject to the Florida Sunshine Law.  Your report may not be public record if the case is open and actively being investigated.