{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-186.3_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-186.3_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-186.3_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-186.3_1.html"}],"law_id":68386,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68386,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.3:1","catch_line":"Identity fraud; consumer reporting agencies; police reports","history":"2003, cc. 914, 918; 2006, c. 298.","full_text":"A\n\nA consumer may report a case of identity theft to the law-enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where he resides. If a consumer, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., submits to a consumer reporting agency, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., a copy of a valid police report, the consumer reporting agency shall, within 30 days of receipt thereof, block the reporting of any information that the consumer alleges appears on his credit report, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., as a result of a violation of § 18.2-186.3. The consumer reporting agency shall promptly notify the furnisher of the information that a police report has been filed, that a block has been requested, and the effective date of the block.B\n\nConsumer reporting agencies may decline to block or may rescind any block of consumer information if, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment, the consumer reporting agency believes that: (i) the information was blocked due to a misrepresentation of a material fact by the consumer; (ii) the information was blocked due to fraud, in which the consumer participated, or of which the consumer had knowledge, and which may for purposes of this section be demonstrated by circumstantial evidence; (iii) the consumer agrees that portions of the blocked information or all of it were blocked in error; (iv) the consumer knowingly obtained or should have known that he obtained possession of goods, services, or moneys as a result of the blocked transaction or transactions; or (v) the consumer reporting agency, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment, has substantial reason based on specific, verifiable facts to doubt the authenticity of the consumer’s report of a violation of § 18.2-186.3.C\n\nIf blocked information is unblocked pursuant to this section, the consumer shall be notified in the same manner as consumers are notified of the reinsertion of information pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act at 15 U.S.C. § 1681i, as amended. The prior presence of the blocked information in the consumer reporting agency’s file on the consumer is not evidence of whether the consumer knew or should have known that he obtained possession of any goods, services, or moneys.D\n\nA consumer reporting agency shall accept the consumer’s version of the disputed information and correct the disputed item when the consumer submits to the consumer reporting agency documentation obtained from the source of the item in dispute or from public records confirming that the report was inaccurate or incomplete, unless the consumer reporting agency, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment, has substantial reason based on specific, verifiable facts to doubt the authenticity of the documentation submitted and notifies the consumer in writing of that decision, explaining its reasons for unblocking the information and setting forth the specific, verifiable facts on which the decision is based.E\n\nA consumer reporting agency shall delete from a consumer credit report inquiries for credit reports based upon credit requests that the consumer reporting agency verifies were initiated as a result of a violation of § 18.2-186.3.F\n\nThe provisions of this section do not apply to (i) a consumer reporting agency that acts as a reseller of credit information by assembling and merging information contained in the databases of other consumer reporting agencies, and that does not maintain a permanent database of credit information from which new consumer credit reports are produced, (ii) a check services or fraud prevention services company that issues reports on incidents of fraud or authorizations for the purpose of approving or processing negotiable instruments, electronic funds transfers, or similar payment methods, or (iii) a demand deposit account information service company that issues reports regarding account closures due to fraud, substantial overdrafts, automatic teller machine abuse or similar negative information regarding a consumer to inquiring banks or other financial institutions for use only in reviewing a consumer request for a demand deposit account at the inquiring bank or financial institution.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":247628,"text":"A consumer may report a case of identity theft to the law-enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where he resides. If a consumer, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., submits to a consumer reporting agency, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., a copy of a valid police report, the consumer reporting agency shall, within 30 days of receipt thereof, block the reporting of any information that the consumer alleges appears on his credit report, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., as a result of a violation of § 18.2-186.3. The consumer reporting agency shall promptly notify the furnisher of the information that a police report has been filed, that a block has been requested, and the effective date of the block.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":247629,"text":"Consumer reporting agencies may decline to block or may rescind any block of consumer information if, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment, the consumer reporting agency believes that: (i) the information was blocked due to a misrepresentation of a material fact by the consumer; (ii) the information was blocked due to fraud, in which the consumer participated, or of which the consumer had knowledge, and which may for purposes of this section be demonstrated by circumstantial evidence; (iii) the consumer agrees that portions of the blocked information or all of it were blocked in error; (iv) the consumer knowingly obtained or should have known that he obtained possession of goods, services, or moneys as a result of the blocked transaction or transactions; or (v) the consumer reporting agency, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment, has substantial reason based on specific, verifiable facts to doubt the authenticity of the consumer’s report of a violation of § 18.2-186.3.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":247630,"text":"If blocked information is unblocked pursuant to this section, the consumer shall be notified in the same manner as consumers are notified of the reinsertion of information pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act at 15 U.S.C. § 1681i, as amended. The prior presence of the blocked information in the consumer reporting agency’s file on the consumer is not evidence of whether the consumer knew or should have known that he obtained possession of any goods, services, or moneys.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":247631,"text":"A consumer reporting agency shall accept the consumer’s version of the disputed information and correct the disputed item when the consumer submits to the consumer reporting agency documentation obtained from the source of the item in dispute or from public records confirming that the report was inaccurate or incomplete, unless the consumer reporting agency, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment, has substantial reason based on specific, verifiable facts to doubt the authenticity of the documentation submitted and notifies the consumer in writing of that decision, explaining its reasons for unblocking the information and setting forth the specific, verifiable facts on which the decision is based.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":247632,"text":"A consumer reporting agency shall delete from a consumer credit report inquiries for credit reports based upon credit requests that the consumer reporting agency verifies were initiated as a result of a violation of § 18.2-186.3.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":247633,"text":"The provisions of this section do not apply to (i) a consumer reporting agency that acts as a reseller of credit information by assembling and merging information contained in the databases of other consumer reporting agencies, and that does not maintain a permanent database of credit information from which new consumer credit reports are produced, (ii) a check services or fraud prevention services company that issues reports on incidents of fraud or authorizations for the purpose of approving or processing negotiable instruments, electronic funds transfers, or similar payment methods, or (iii) a demand deposit account information service company that issues reports regarding account closures due to fraud, substantial overdrafts, automatic teller machine abuse or similar negative information regarding a consumer to inquiring banks or other financial institutions for use only in reviewing a consumer request for a demand deposit account at the inquiring bank or financial institution.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14590,"edition_id":1,"name":"False Representations to Obtain Property or Credit","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13358,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:47","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:47","permalink":{"id":166089,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14590,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/6\/5","url":"\/18.2\/6\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13358,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Fraud","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","permalink":{"id":165933,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13358,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/6","url":"\/18.2\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":70856,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186","catch_line":"False statements to obtain property or credit","url":"\/18.2-186\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186","metadata":false},{"id":70659,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-186.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.1","metadata":false},{"id":75819,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.2","catch_line":"False statements or failure to disclose material facts in order to obtain aid or benefits under any local, state or federal housing assistance program","url":"\/18.2-186.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.2","metadata":false},{"id":73403,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.3","catch_line":"Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance","url":"\/18.2-186.3\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.3","metadata":false},{"id":68386,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.3:1","catch_line":"Identity fraud; consumer reporting agencies; police reports","url":"\/18.2-186.3_1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.3_1","metadata":false},{"id":86000,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.4","catch_line":"Use of a person's identity with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-186.4\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.4","metadata":false},{"id":74122,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.4:1","catch_line":"Internet publication of personal information of certain public officials","url":"\/18.2-186.4_1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":63464,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.5","catch_line":"Expungement of false identity information from police and court records; Identity Theft Passport","url":"\/18.2-186.5\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.5","metadata":false},{"id":64651,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.6","catch_line":"Breach of personal information notification","url":"\/18.2-186.6\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.6","metadata":false},{"id":56090,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-187","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-187\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187","metadata":false},{"id":64355,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-187.1","catch_line":"Obtaining or attempting to obtain oil, electric, gas, water, telephone, telegraph, cable television or electronic communication service without payment; penalty; civil liability","url":"\/18.2-187.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187.1","metadata":false},{"id":72422,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-187.2","catch_line":"Audiovisual recording of motion pictures unlawful; penalty","url":"\/18.2-187.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-187.2","metadata":false},{"id":64840,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-188","catch_line":"Defrauding hotels, motels, campgrounds, boardinghouses, etc","url":"\/18.2-188\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-188","metadata":false},{"id":61566,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-188.1","catch_line":"Defrauding person having a lien on an animal; penalty","url":"\/18.2-188.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-188.1","metadata":false},{"id":78241,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-189","catch_line":"Defrauding keeper of motor vehicles or watercraft","url":"\/18.2-189\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-189","metadata":false},{"id":76832,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-190","catch_line":"Fraudulent misrepresentation as to breed of bull or cattle","url":"\/18.2-190\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-190","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73403,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.3","catch_line":"Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance","url":"\/18.2-186.3\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.3","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86000,"structure_id":14590,"section_number":"18.2-186.4","catch_line":"Use of a person's identity with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-186.4\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.4","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-186.3:1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2003. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 914<\/a> and 918<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2006, chapter 298<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":73403,"section_number":"18.2-186.3","catch_line":"Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-186.3\/"}],"permalink":{"id":166107,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68386,"identifier":"18.2-186.3:1","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.3_1","url":"\/18.2-186.3_1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-186.3_1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/5\/18.2-186.3_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Identity fraud; consumer reporting agencies; police reports","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-186.3:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A consumer may report a case of identity theft to the law<\/span>-enforcement agency in the jurisdiction<\/span> where he resides. If a consumer, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., submits to a consumer reporting agency, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., a copy of a valid police report, the consumer reporting agency shall, within 30 days of receipt thereof, block the reporting of any information that the consumer alleges appears on his credit report, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., as a result of a violation of § 18.2-186.3<\/a>. The consumer reporting agency shall promptly notify the furnisher of the information that a police report has been filed, that a block has been requested, and the effective date of the block. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Consumer reporting agencies may decline to block or may rescind any block of consumer information if, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment<\/span>, the consumer reporting agency believes that: (i) the information was blocked due to a misrepresentation of a material<\/span> fact<\/span> by the consumer; (ii) the information was blocked due to fraud<\/span>, in which the consumer participated, or of which the consumer had knowledge, and which may for purposes of this section be demonstrated by circumstantial evidence<\/span>; (iii) the consumer agrees that portions of the blocked information or all of it were blocked in error; (iv) the consumer knowingly obtained or should have known that he obtained possession<\/span> of goods, services, or moneys as a result of the blocked transaction or transactions; or (v) the consumer reporting agency, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment<\/span>, has substantial reason based on specific, verifiable facts<\/span> to doubt the authenticity of the consumer’s report of a violation of § 18.2-186.3<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If blocked information is unblocked pursuant to this section, the consumer shall be notified in the same manner as consumers are notified of the reinsertion of information pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act at 15 U.S.C. § 1681i, as amended. The prior presence of the blocked information in the consumer reporting agency’s file on the consumer is not evidence of whether the consumer knew or should have known that he obtained possession<\/span> of any goods, services, or moneys. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A consumer reporting agency shall accept the consumer’s version of the disputed information and correct the disputed item when the consumer submits to the consumer reporting agency documentation obtained from the source of the item in dispute or from public records confirming that the report was inaccurate or incomplete, unless the consumer reporting agency, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment<\/span>, has substantial reason based on specific, verifiable facts<\/span> to doubt the authenticity of the documentation submitted and notifies the consumer in writing of that decision, explaining its reasons for unblocking the information and setting forth the specific, verifiable facts<\/span> on which the decision is based. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> A consumer reporting agency shall delete from a consumer credit report inquiries for credit reports based upon credit requests that the consumer reporting agency verifies were initiated as a result of a violation of § 18.2-186.3<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The provisions of this section do not apply to (i) a consumer reporting agency that acts as a reseller of credit information by assembling and merging information contained in the databases of other consumer reporting agencies, and that does not maintain a permanent database of credit information from which new consumer credit reports are produced, (ii) a check services or fraud<\/span> prevention services company that issues<\/span> reports on incidents of fraud<\/span> or authorizations for the purpose of approving or processing negotiable instruments, electronic funds transfers, or similar payment methods, or (iii) a demand deposit account information service company that issues<\/span> reports regarding account closures due to fraud<\/span>, substantial overdrafts, automatic teller machine abuse or similar negative information regarding a consumer to inquiring banks or other financial institutions for use only in reviewing a consumer request for a demand deposit account at the inquiring bank or financial institution. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nIDENTITY FRAUD; CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES; POLICE REPORTS (\u00a7 18.2-186.3:1)\n\nA. A consumer may report a case of identity theft to the law-enforcement agency\nin the jurisdiction where he resides. If a consumer, as defined by the Fair\nCredit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., submits to a consumer\nreporting agency, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §\n1681 et seq., a copy of a valid police report, the consumer reporting agency\nshall, within 30 days of receipt thereof, block the reporting of any information\nthat the consumer alleges appears on his credit report, as defined by the Fair\nCredit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., as a result of a violation\nof § 18.2-186.3. The consumer reporting agency shall promptly notify the\nfurnisher of the information that a police report has been filed, that a block\nhas been requested, and the effective date of the block.\n\nB. Consumer reporting agencies may decline to block or may rescind any block of\nconsumer information if, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment,\nthe consumer reporting agency believes that: (i) the information was blocked due\nto a misrepresentation of a material fact by the consumer; (ii) the information\nwas blocked due to fraud, in which the consumer participated, or of which the\nconsumer had knowledge, and which may for purposes of this section be\ndemonstrated by circumstantial evidence; (iii) the consumer agrees that portions\nof the blocked information or all of it were blocked in error; (iv) the consumer\nknowingly obtained or should have known that he obtained possession of goods,\nservices, or moneys as a result of the blocked transaction or transactions; or\n(v) the consumer reporting agency, in the exercise of good faith and reasonable\njudgment, has substantial reason based on specific, verifiable facts to doubt\nthe authenticity of the consumer’s report of a violation of §\n18.2-186.3.\n\nC. If blocked information is unblocked pursuant to this section, the consumer\nshall be notified in the same manner as consumers are notified of the\nreinsertion of information pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act at 15\nU.S.C. § 1681i, as amended. The prior presence of the blocked information\nin the consumer reporting agency’s file on the consumer is not evidence of\nwhether the consumer knew or should have known that he obtained possession of\nany goods, services, or moneys.\n\nD. A consumer reporting agency shall accept the consumer’s version of the\ndisputed information and correct the disputed item when the consumer submits to\nthe consumer reporting agency documentation obtained from the source of the item\nin dispute or from public records confirming that the report was inaccurate or\nincomplete, unless the consumer reporting agency, in the exercise of good faith\nand reasonable judgment, has substantial reason based on specific, verifiable\nfacts to doubt the authenticity of the documentation submitted and notifies the\nconsumer in writing of that decision, explaining its reasons for unblocking the\ninformation and setting forth the specific, verifiable facts on which the\ndecision is based.\n\nE. A consumer reporting agency shall delete from a consumer credit report\ninquiries for credit reports based upon credit requests that the consumer\nreporting agency verifies were initiated as a result of a violation of §\n18.2-186.3.\n\nF. The provisions of this section do not apply to (i) a consumer reporting\nagency that acts as a reseller of credit information by assembling and merging\ninformation contained in the databases of other consumer reporting agencies, and\nthat does not maintain a permanent database of credit information from which new\nconsumer credit reports are produced, (ii) a check services or fraud prevention\nservices company that issues reports on incidents of fraud or authorizations for\nthe purpose of approving or processing negotiable instruments, electronic funds\ntransfers, or similar payment methods, or (iii) a demand deposit account\ninformation service company that issues reports regarding account closures due\nto fraud, substantial overdrafts, automatic teller machine abuse or similar\nnegative information regarding a consumer to inquiring banks or other financial\ninstitutions for use only in reviewing a consumer request for a demand deposit\naccount at the inquiring bank or financial institution.\n\nHISTORY: 2003, cc. 914, 918; 2006, c. 298.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}