Preventative Maintenance
Obtain a free copy of your credit report annually
by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com or by
calling 1-877-322-8228.
 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.
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Register every phone number you own for
the National Do Not Call List at
www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-3821222 from the phone you want to register.
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.com
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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.”
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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.
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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.

Keep your Social Security Card locked away in
a safe place until it is absolutely required.
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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.

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.

Use Direct Deposit for Government Benefits,
Tax Refunds, and Paychecks whenever
possible.
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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.
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Opt-Out of Pre-Screened Credit Offers by
visiting www.optoutprescreen.com or calling
1-888-567-8688.
 This will help to reduce the amount of “junk mail”
you receive daily.
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Reduce the amount of “junk mail” you receive
by visiting the Direct Marketing Association
at www.dmachoice.org or calling
1-212-768-7277.

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.”
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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!

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.
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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.
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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.
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To place a fraud alert on your credit file,
contact:
 Equifax: www.equifax.com or 1-888-766-0008.
 Experian: www.experian.com or 1-888-397-3742.
 Transunion: www.transunion.com or
1-800-680-7289 .
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Place a Credit Freeze on your Credit File:
 A Credit Freeze will prevent anyone from opening any new
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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.
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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
 The Federal Government
▪ www.stopfraud.gov
▪ Be Aware: You may need to report to multiple Federal Agencies,
sometimes up to three different agencies.

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).
ELDER CONSUMER
PROTECTION PROGRAM
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
Twitter:
@StetsonLawECPP
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