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Does this sounds like you? If, so change your habits

1. You respect authority
2. You like to please people
3. You are cocky
4. You slipped up once
5. You’re friendly
6. You are under stress
7. You’re lonely

Avoid carrying too much ID in your wallet is risky.

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Contact your insurer to see if you are covered when traveling overseas. Sometimes you can get a waiver, if you have a pre-existing condition. The waiver requires that you are well enough to travel when you buy your policy and you purchase your insurance soon after your first payment typically within 10-21 days, says Julie Loffredi (www.insuremytrip.com).

An emergency such as a broken leg that prevents you from traveling, should be covered by trip cancellation insurance. However,You will need to buy insurance to cover 100% of the cost for your trip. Bon Voyage!

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Purchasing travel insurance can be complicated. Read your travel policy thoroughly since there can be limitations or disqualifying events to baffle most people – starting with the terminology. To be safe, ask your health insurer if you are covered when traveling overseas. Traditional Medicare doesn’t cover health problems outside the USA, but Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans do. A travel website, nomadicmatt.com (Matt Kepnes) recommends $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and at least $300,000 in coverage for medical evacuation. Please note if you have diabetes, a history of knee problems or another chronic condition, you’ll want to know if there is a pre-exisiting waiver. Tomorrow part 2.

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will soon allow debt collectors to send emails and text messages 7 days a week. The Trump Administration has rolled back many consumer protections and now supports easy access to your personal data and your social media to collect debts. Once approved, companies will be able to use social media to contact you in the form of text messaging and emails. If you have a highly visible profile on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. companies may use this info to contact or harass you to collect a debt. Legislation passed 40 years ago did not include social media since it did not exist when restrictions were then placed on phone calls at home and at work. New legislation must now address restrictions on social media, but that may be several years down the road.

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Scammers may come from different parts of the world and the schemes are frequent and varied. Discuss financial decisions with caregivers, family member and bank representatives to protect against elder fraud. When scammers operate in secret, fraud spreads rampantly. Report fraud to the police immediately.

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If you are aware of claims on your record that you did establish report to Medicaid. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs can be acquired by fraud. Report suspicious activity to eradicate fraud.

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Yes. Tax exempt organizations have to file 990s [IRS tax forms]. Charities are also required to register and file reports in (40) states. This info is used to share with the public online. The FTC will investigate to eradicate fraud.

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Recently, there is a rise of telemarketing calls on behalf of political action committees that use soundboard technology (prerecorded messages played in a way that makes people believe a real caller in on the phone line). The calls sound like the charitable donation calls that you have gotten before. They will make it sound like you are giving a donation to help support the police, firefighters, Veterans or others – but it turns out the donation is going to a political action committee – PAC. Give to organizations locally that you can personally research to verify they are legitimate.

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Beware of sweepstakes scams that require you to pay fees or solicit your banking information. These days the scams are online or via email. Bitcoin has been linked to the recent scams. Before you invest, do your research and seek advice of several financial professionals prior to making a decision about whether to invest.

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