An Identity History Summary check is a summary of information taken from fingerprint submissions kept by the FBI. It includes arrest data and, in some cases, federal employment, naturalization, or military service information.
Individuals usually make this request for personal review, to challenge the record information, to satisfy a requirement for the adoption of a child out of state or internationally, to seal, delete, or remove inaccurate criminal history information, or to live, work, study, or travel in a foreign country (i.e., police certificate, letter of good conduct, Identity History Summary check).
Ensure Your Safety
The FBI offers an identity history summary check, also known as rap sheets, as a way for you to review and request the information that law enforcement and judicial agencies have submitted to the FBI about your past. It can help you understand your security risks and how to avoid them.
The guidelines for obtaining a copy of your identity history summary for review or to demonstrate that one doesn’t exist were set by the United States Department of Justice Order 556-73, formerly known as the FBI Criminal Record Check. Your identity history overview can help you determine if there are any records of previous arrests you’ve had and confirm the correctness of the data in your current personal file.
Under federal law, the FBI may exchange identity history summary information with state and local governments for employment, licensing, and noncriminal justice purposes. This exchange is authorized by a state statute approved by the Attorney General of the United States.
Depending on the agency requiring your fingerprints, you can submit your application, payment, and fingerprint card(s) directly to the FBI or work with an FBI-approved channeler. An FBI-approved channel collects your data and revenue, submits your request to the FBI for you, and often helps expedite the delivery of your identity history summary. In addition to the FBI fee, channelers charge an extra $40 or $50 for their services.
Ways to Prevent Identity Theft
When someone obtains your personal information and uses it to commit fraud or other crimes, this is known as identity theft. It is a severe problem that can lead to many issues, including identity theft recovery, lost money and accumulated debt, damage to your credit and reputation, and other intangible costs.
You can lower your chances of becoming a victim by protecting your sensitive information. For example, securely store financial documents, Social Security, and Medicare cards at home and work.
Contact the relevant agencies and let them know immediately if you think your identity has been stolen. It can include banks, credit card companies, health insurance providers, and the IRS.
Also, you should regularly monitor your credit report to spot new accounts opened in your name that might be suspicious. It will alert you to any unusual activity and allow you to take steps to correct it before it gets out of hand.
In addition, the FBI provides a service called an identity history summary check that can help prevent identity theft. This process involves submitting a written request, satisfactory proof of identity, and a processing fee to the FBI.
Keep Your Family Safe
While you can’t go back in time to prevent a criminal act from occurring, you can protect yourself against identity theft by making sure your personal information is as secure as possible. One way to do this is by requesting an identity history summary check from the FBI. These reports are the best way to determine if you have any criminal activity on record.
In addition to culling court and law enforcement records, these checks also look for any fingerprints on file at the FBI. It is a big deal because you could be exposed to identity theft if your fingerprints aren’t on hand for the government to scan.
The federal government is quite proud of its ability to conduct a fingerprint ID check, and the process can be as simple as taking a photo of your thumb. An excellent fingerprinting service will simplify the task, and you can walk away with your ID quickly. Whether you’re looking to prove your identity, snag a job, or obtain an educational credential, an identity history summary check may be the answer you’ve been searching for.
Prevent Fraud
Identity theft is an ongoing issue and taking steps to prevent it is essential. You can protect your personal information from fraudsters by developing good online security habits, using unique passwords, limiting exposure to public Wi-Fi networks, and keeping up with technological changes.
You may also want to consider adding a credit freeze or fraud alert to your credit reports, which will notify lenders that your identity is stolen. It will stop them from processing your applications or opening new accounts until they verify your identity again.
Lastly, if you’ve had your identity stolen, you should call creditors for any accounts opened in your name by the criminal. These include credit card companies, other lenders, phone companies, and utility companies. You can use the forms in our Consumer Information Sheet 3A: requesting account information from credit grantors, utilities, and cell phone service companies to get information about these accounts.
The FBI conducts identity history summary checks (IdHSC) to cull court and law enforcement records to find any criminal activity tied to your fingerprints. In some instances, this includes information based on federal employment, naturalization, or military service.