Consumer Protection Tips

In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, Hillsborough County encourages residents to be vigilant in protecting themselves or loved ones from fraud, scams, and identity theft. Our offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. For more, find us online or by calling (813) 635-8316.

Protecting your credit and identity 

If you have been a victim of identity theft, or want to take preventative steps, you can:

• Check Your Credit for free at annualcreditreport.com. Request free fraud alerts, credit freezes, active-duty military credit monitoring, and opt-outs from prescreened credit offers from the three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Freeze Your Credit to prevent unauthorized access to your credit report and block new accounts from being opened. It’s free to place and to lift, won’t affect your credit score, and you can still add a fraud alert if needed. Contact the credit bureaus above to get started.
• File an Initial Fraud Alert to advise businesses to verify your identity before opening a new account. Unlike a credit freeze, this doesn’t block access to your credit report. The initial alert will last one year, and you can choose to renew it. If you suspect fraud, you can place a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting any one of the three credit bureaus. The one you contact must tell the other two to place an initial fraud alert on your credit report.
• File an Extended Fraud Alert to make it harder for someone to open a credit account in your name by requiring businesses to contact you first. Available for identity theft victims with an FTC or police report, an extended fraud alert lasts seven years and includes free weekly credit report access and removal from marketing lists for five years. You can temporarily lift it for needs like applying for credit or renting an apartment, and it’s free to place. Contact any one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The credit bureau you contact must tell the other two to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.
• Military Members Can File an Active-Duty Alert to make it harder for someone to open credit in their name by requiring identity verification. This lasts one year, with the option to renew for the length of deployment. This added protection helps safeguard financial security during military service and also requires the credit bureaus to take you off their marketing lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for two years, unless otherwise authorized.

Wage recovery program: When your job owes you money

Employees working off the clock, unpaid training time, not paying overtime, taking tips, or misclassifying workers are a few ways that dishonest employers steal wages. Wage theft often affects low-income workers in agriculture, construction, and service industries. The burden of proof rests upon the employee who needs evidence to support and win their case.

Tips to prevent wage theft

• Avoid verbal contracts. Get and keep agreements in writing
• Know who you are working for. Get a business card with name, address, and contact number
• Avoid meeting employers at a location that is not their office
• Keep accurate records of work hours and pay. Consider using an app that tracks information
• Keep texts and emails for use as evidence in case of wage theft
• Consider getting a Contractors Invoice Book featuring the person’s name, address, phone, description of work performed, contracted price, and signature lines for client agreement and verification of work completed

If you or someone you know is owed $60 or more in wages from an independent contractor, you can file a wage theft complaint with Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Services. If you work for certain employers or large companies, contact the Department of Labor.

Top tips to avoid contractor fraud

Here are some important tips to know about handyman services:

1. Check for the contractor’s basic information: license number and business address or contact information on estimates, business cards, vehicle, or marketing materials
2. Verify the local contractor’s license in Hillsborough County
3. Verify a contractor’s license at the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR)
4. Get details, pricing, and the scope of work in writing and signed by both parties.
5. Get multiple work estimates and avoid fast-talking, high-pressure salespeople who try to force quick decisions. Take your time, do your research.
6. Avoid paying up front, in cash, or by check to a different contractor or supplier.
7. Some payments may go toward materials but should never be larger than 50% of the job cost. A 10%-20% down payment is standard to get NEVER pay in full until the work is complete
8. Do not make any payments until the contractor provides a Partial Release of Lien and Affidavit, and the homeowner should not make the final payment until a Final Release of Lien Affidavit is received from the contractor, which ensures subcontractors have been paid

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, call Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Services at (813) 635-8316. For steps on how to report fraud, visit www.HCFL.gov/Consumer

Protecting Your Property with Property Fraud Alerts

It's more important than ever for homeowners to safeguard their most valuable asset. A free, proactive measure is to enroll in free alerts that notify you whenever a document transferring your property's title is recorded. Here's how it works:

• You will receive an alert whenever a document affecting the title of your property is recorded.
• This is an early warning system that allows you to take action if any fraudulent activity is detected.
• You can rest easy knowing that you will be informed of any changes to your property's title.

Alerts are a crucial first line of defense against these most common real estate frauds:

Title Fraud:When the scammer uses false documents to pose as the property owner, transfers the property to their name, and then secures a loan using the property as collateral

Foreclosure Fraud: Scammers target homeowners struggling with their mortgage payments. They offer a loan to cover expenses, tricking owners into transferring the property title.

Home Equity Fraud: Properties with significant equity are targeted by scammers who forge documents to secure loans against the property, leaving the legitimate owner in debt.

Rental Scams:Scammers pretend to be landlords or real estate agents who then post fake rental listings and collect deposits to rent for properties they don't own.

Online Real Estate Scams: Fake online real estate listings involving interested buyers who contact the “seller.” The scammer then takes a deposit or personal information before the property listing disappears.

Victims of fraud and scams should contact law enforcement immediately. For more information, you can also contact Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Services or call us at (813) 635-8316.

More about Identity theft

Identity (ID) theft occurs when a stranger gains access to your personal information without your knowledge or consent. This information could be used to open lines of credit in your name or submit applications for things like employment, insurance coverage, or housing. The most common types of ID theft are:

Financial Identity Theft: When someone uses another person's information for financial gain. For instance, an ID thief may use your bank account or credit card numbers to steal money or make purchases, or they may use your Social Security number to open a new credit card. Some criminals may start by making small credit or debit charges in hopes you don't notice them. Check your account statements regularly for charges, and contact your bank or credit card company immediately for charges you don’t recognize.

In the case of new accounts created by an ID thief in your name, you may not receive a bill or statement. If you think your personal information has been compromised, place a security freeze or a one-year initial fraud alert on your credit reports to help prevent access to open new accounts. Be sure to check your credit reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies – Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian – through AnnualCreditReport.com for any accounts you don't recognize.

Tax identity theft: When thieves use your information to file a fraudulent tax return and steal your refund. Be wary of calls, texts, or emails claiming to be from the IRS, as they never contact consumers this way or threaten legal action. Never share personal information in response to unsolicited messages by phone call, email, social media message, or text message. If your tax return is rejected because someone has filed a return in your name already, contact the IRS. You may need to file a fraud claim and receive a PIN to use on future tax returns.

Medical Identity Theft: When your information is used to obtain health care. Review your Explanation of Benefits for errors, report unfamiliar charges to your insurer, and ensure your medical records are accurate. If you receive bills for services you didn’t get, contact the provider to dispute them and check with your doctor to ensure your medical records are accurate.

Employment Identity Theft: When your information is used by others to get a job or pass a background check. Be cautious of employers requesting financial details before an interview or using personal rather than company email addresses. Always verify job offers to avoid scams. The federal government's E-Verify site can show you all employers that have checked your records, so you can see if there are any unfamiliar ones.

Child Identity Theft: Since most children under age 16 don’t have credit reports, scammers can open accounts in their name undetected. Many victims don’t discover the theft until applying for student loans or jobs. If you suspect child identity theft, check with the three major credit bureaus for a credit report. If you find theft, you can file an Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and take other action, such as placing a security freeze on your child's credit report or locking it. See more from the FTC on child identity theft.

Estate Identity Theft: This occurs when an ID thief uses the personal information of a deceased person to steal money or open accounts. Make sure the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies place a death notice on the deceased person’s credit reports. 

Criminal Identity Theft: When someone who has been arrested uses your personal information with law enforcement. It often goes unnoticed until consequences arise, like an arrest warrant for an unpaid ticket. To protect yourself, limit personal information shared online and contact law enforcement immediately if you’re a victim. You can find more information about criminal identity theft at the federal government’s Identity Theft Resource Center

Synthetic Identity Theft: This happens when thieves create fake identities using real or fabricated information, often targeting children or the deceased. Regularly check credit reports for yourself, seniors, and children, and consider identity monitoring services to detect misuse. Placing a security freeze can add extra protection against fraud.

Victims of fraud or scams can also file a complaint at www.FTC.gov/Complaint