1. Preventative Maintenance

2.  Obtain a free copy of your credit report annually by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.www.annualcreditreport.com  Review your report carefully for any suspicious activity, accounts you don’t recognize, or delinquencies you do not remember.  If you discover a discrepancy, file a dispute with the credit bureau. They have 30 days to investigate and respond.

3.  Register every phone number you own for the National Do Not Call List at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382- 1222 from the phone you want to register. www.donotcall.gov  All legitimate calls should cease 31 days after registration. Therefore, any telemarketing call you receive after 31 days of registration is all but guaranteed to be a scam.  Florida Do Not Call List: www.fldnc.comwww.fldnc.com

4.  Only answer calls from numbers you know or recognize.  Allow all other calls to go to voicemail for screening purposes.  Block all numbers that are “fishy.”

5.  NEVER do business with unsolicited callers or door to door salesmen.  Simply tell them “I do not do business with anyone who calls or visits me unannounced, please send me something in writing.”  Afterwards, confirm the businesses legitimacy and business license before entering into a business deal.

6.  Including: Bank Statements; Tax Documents; Investment Portfolios; and any documents containing your Social Security Number, Credit Card Number, Bank Account Number, or any other Personal Identifying Information.  Be sure to use a shredder that cross cuts in no larger than three inch strips.

7.  Keep your Social Security Card locked away in a safe place until it is absolutely required.

8.  Only carry with you the checks, debit cards, and credit cards you will need that day.  Keep all extras locked away in a secure location until they are needed.

9.  Never give out your personal information over the phone or internet unless YOU initiated the contact, and you are CERTAIN of the receiving parties legitimacy.

10.  Use Direct Deposit for Government Benefits, Tax Refunds, and Paychecks whenever possible.

11.  To prevent Mail Theft, invest in a locking mailbox.  This can also reduce the hassle of having someone collect your mail should you go out of town.  If you do not use a locking mailbox, be sure to suspend your mail service should you leave town for any length of time.

12.  Opt-Out of Pre-Screened Credit Offers by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com or calling 1-888-567-8688.www.optoutprescreen.com  This will help to reduce the amount of “junk mail” you receive daily.

13.  Reduce the amount of “junk mail” you receive by visiting the Direct Marketing Association at www.dmachoice.org or calling 1-212-768-7277.www.dmachoice.org

14.  DO NOT use public profiles for social media.  Your privacy settings can be modified on all social media platforms. ▪ For Facebook, set to “Friends Only.”  Only “friend” people on Social Media that your really know.  Restrict the amount of information that you put online.  Be careful about describing upcoming vacations, etc. Only post pictures of yourself out of town after you return home!

15.  Beware of and Avoid Fee Seminars, Hotel Stays, Trips, etc.  While this can be a way to get a free trip, etc., the sales team is highly trained in sales tactics, and the pressure to buy will be extremely high.  If you do attend a Free Seminar, leave your checkbook, credit cards, etc. at home or in the car.  Never make a decision that night or even the next day. Think on it for a week and do your due diligence.

16.  A Fraud Alert informs creditors to contact the consumer by telephone to verify that the consumer wants to open a new account.  The Alert is effective only for 90 days, but can be renewed an unlimited number of times.  Upon Activation with one credit bureau, the Fraud Alert is effective will all three major credit bureaus.

17.  To place a fraud alert on your credit file, contact:  Equifax: www.equifax.com or 1-888-766-0008.www.equifax.com  Experian: www.experian.com or 1-888-397-3742.www.experian.com  Transunion: www.transunion.com or 1-800-680-7289.www.transunion.com

18.  Place a Credit Freeze on your Credit File:  A Credit Freeze will prevent anyone from opening any new credit accounts on your Credit File.  The Freeze can be lifted temporarily to allow yourself to open a new credit account.  The Freeze will not affect your credit score in any way.  The Freeze normally cost between $5-10 dollars when instituted, and again when removed.  The Freeze will remain in place until you lift it temporarily or remove it entirely.  Place a Credit Freeze on your Credit File by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus individually.

19.  REPORT IT:  Local Police Department ▪ Financial Crimes Unit or Elder Abuse Unit  Your State Attorney General or Consumer Services Division AND Local Consumer Services Division ▪ https://www.usa.gov/state-tribal-governments https://www.usa.gov/state-tribal-governments  The Federal Government ▪ www.stopfraud.gov www.stopfraud.gov ▪ Be Aware: You may need to report to multiple Federal Agencies, sometimes up to three different agencies.

20.  Not only should you report to crime control agencies (FTC, SEC, etc.) but also to those entities with criminal investigative and prosecutorial powers (FBI, Local Police).

21. 1401 - 61st Street South Gulfport, Florida 33707 Telephone: (727) 562-7888 Facsimile: (727) 345-1838 E-mail: ecpp@law.stetson.edu Website: http://www.stetson.edu/law/elderconsumers http://www.stetson.edu/law/elderconsumers Twitter: @StetsonLawECPP ELDER CONSUMER PROTECTION PROGRAM 21