The Edgecombe-Nash Retired School Personnel met at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 8 in Braswell Memorial Library’s Warner Room.

After President Laurette Lewis greeted everyone, Vice President Mary Williams gave the devotion on God leading us to help others.

Health Committee Chairman Mabel McIntyre gave pointers on honey, which fights infection and heals burns. Mix it with cinnamon to prevent swelling and ringworm.

President Laurette reported:

(l) nine delegates will attend the NCRSP State Convention at the Durham Sheraton on March 15-16.

(2) Our membership is 201 members.

(3) Members are encouraged to record their Community Participation volunteer hours monthly. Elsie Wade reported the most hours in 2010.

(4) Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week in May. Information about our organization will be distributed in local schools.

(5) We are to turn in a write-up and picture if participating in the Dr. Seuss program on March 2.

(6) The 2011 scholarship recipient will be an Edgecombe Community College student.

(7) There is no cost-of-living increase for retirees in the state budget this year. Lobbyists are working to keep health insurance intact.

Caroline Farmer from the Attorney General’s Office of the N. C. Department of Justice (1-877-566-7226) presented excellent helpful information and handouts on “Protecting Ourselves against Fraud.”

Because Rocky Mount is along Interstate 95, it stands in the top 50 percent of the U. S. for national fraud. People come in, grab a phone book and do a scam. Then they move on.

Get free security freezes and yearly credit reports. Protect your Social Security number, destroy documents you do not need, monitor your finances, protect your information online (surfing and shopping, email and passwords), watch over your mail and beware of scams and frauds. For ample details, visit http://www.ncdoj.gov/.

Stand up and fight back using tips to help protect you from frauds and scams. Some are living trust and annuity fraud and telemarketing, sweepstakes, health care, home construction or repair scams.

Hang up on pushy telemarketers and join the “Do Not Call Registry” for free online at the website or call 1-888-382-1222 to keep most of them from bothering you again. For more information, call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.

A security freeze stops credit reporting agencies from releasing information about you to new creditors without your approval, which can stop identity thieves from getting new credit in your name.

To get a security freeze by phone, contact the three major credit bureaus: Equifax Security Freeze, 1-800-685-1111; Experian Security Freeze, 1-866-977-0418; and TransUnion Security Freeze, 1-888-997-0418.

To get your one free annual report from them, go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

To monitor your credit year round, ask for a free report from a different credit bureau every four months.

Shred “pre-approved” credit card applications, old bank statements, insurance forms, etc.

Email alerts@ncdoj.gov and provide your county for updates or check the calendar at www.ncdoj.gov/.

For identification purposes, the safest way for you to shop is to use a credit card — not money, checks or debit card. According to the federal law, there is a $50 maximum that you would pay in the event of fraud but most banks do not charge it. Use automatic deposit for Social Security and retirement checks.

If someone steals your checks and starts using them, under law you have no legal protection.

However, you do have a contract relationship with your bank.

Notify them quickly to clear it up. If someone steals your debit card, you probably will not get the money back. However, there is a credit card logo on the bottom. If they are used as credit cards, it is a federal law they must give you the money back.

Here’s an example of how credit card information can be stolen and then sold to someone else.

When a waitress is ringing up your payment, she can swipe your credit card on a little skimmer device to record the black magnetic strip. Later, she could sell the number on line for $10. Somebody in Canada or Toronto buys your credit card number.

After they buy a $3,000 computer with your credit card number, you get the bill. It comes out of your checking account.

This is done at the beginning of the month when most people get paid. Dispute the bill and show that the purchase is not yours. You get the money back but may owe $50.

If this happens with your debit card, that number can be sold on line. You have written checks for monthly bills and had automatic drafted withdrawals. You are bouncing those because the money is missing and not covered. That is why the credit card is safer.

If you get pre-approved credit card offers in the mail, call Credit Bureaus at 888-5OPT-OUT to stop selling your information. They sell your name on a list because you meet certain criteria.

There are little phones with a camera that can zoom in on your credit card for the number.

Cover numbers on credit cards, checks and pin numbers so nobody can see and record your information.

Lastly, give the last four digits of your Social Security number to the Internal Revenue since several people might have your exact same name.

Check your store receipts because the cashier might take money out.