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Phone:527-8700 Fax: 527-8722 1402 River View Drive Cody WY 82414 Stop Financial Exploitation before it happens! Protect Yourself from Financial Exploitation Be suspicious if a deal seems too good to be true. It could be a scam! Do not give out personal information to phone solicitors. Protect your credit cards, Social Security and ATM information. Get estimates before doing renovations. Do not pay for work in advance. Check insurance references and credentials Do not sign a power of attorney or any other document that allows another person to act on your behalf unless you have a complete understanding of the actions he or she can take using your name and assets. Use good financial practices. Sign up for direct deposit. Do not sign blank checks. Never leave money lying around. Shred credit card offers. Maintain a network of friends and professionals. Avoiding Exploitation Be Safe and Aware CODY POLICE DEPARTMENT To report or discuss elder abuse, neglect or financial exploitation contact: Wyoming Elder Abuse Hotline 1-[PHONE REDACTED] To report or discuss financial or consumer crimes contact: Wyoming Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit 1-[PHONE REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- Ways Strangers Can Exploit You Someone convinces you to… Help catch a dishonest bank employee. An individual claims to be a bank examiner and convinces you to make a large cash withdrawal to help catch the dishonest employee Donate to a bogus charity Help someone, maybe your child or friend, who has been seriously injured or is in jail and needs money for medical treatment or bail Someone wants you to… Buy a valueless or nonexistent product Invest in a fictitious company Claim a nonexistent prize, but first wants you to pay for shipping and handling charges or to verify your identity Accept an unsolicited service for a reasonable fee; however, after starting the work, he or she will insist you pay more than originally agreed Split a large sum of money that has just been found; however, first you must with- draw an amount equal to your share in order to show a sign of good faith. Be Suspicious if Someone… Obtains access to checks written to you, your personal accounts or ATM Charges you excessive rent or fees for basic services Coerces you into signing checks or personal asset documents through the use of force, manipulation, intimidation or threats Fraudulently uses a power of attorney or fiduciary authority to alter your will, obtain access to your finances or dispose of your income or assets. Indicates he or she will stop providing for your care unless you give him or her more money or assets. Steals money or assets from you