THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH MARCH MADNESS NOT THE BASKETBALL GAMES AS MUCH AS THIS FESTIVAL OF SPORTS BETTING.

JOINING US FROM THE MARYLAND CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING ARE WILLIAM HINMAN A PEER COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR AND HEATHER ESHLEMAN THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

LET'S START WITH YOUR STORY.

YOU WOUND UP BEFORE YOU WORKED IN THIS FIELD, YOU SORT OF FELL INTO THIS RABBIT HOLE.

>> LONG HISTORY OF GAMBLING.

STARTED SPORTS GAMBLING IN COLLEGE AT THE AIMING.

20 YEARS OLD, TOOK MY FIRST TRIP TO THE CASINO IN ATLANTIC CITY AT 21.

AND THAT STARTED A REALLY LONG HISTORY OF SPORTS GAMBLING, CASINO GAMBLING.

IF YOU COULD PUT MONEY IT I WOULD GAMBLE ON IT.

IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE MONEY ON-LINE IT WASN'T WORTH DOING ANY ACTIVITY.

WE GET THE DOPAMINE HITS AND THEY DID A BRAIN SCAN WITH SOMEBODY WITH A DRUG ADDICTION AND A GAMBLING PROBLEM, THE WAY I DESCRIBE IT I AM A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC, ALCOHOL MADE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE IN MY OWN SKIN AND GAMBLING WAS MY FAVORITE HIGH.

I DID NOT GAMBLE TO MAKE MONEY.

IT WAS ABOUT THE ACTION THAT IT PRODUCED ON MY BRAIN.

>> Jeff: IN THE OLD DAYS THE ACTION WAS HARDER TO FIND.

PEOPLE WENT TO THE RACETRACK.

SHORT OF GOING TO ATLANTIC CITY OR VAGUE THERE WAS YOUR -- VEGAS, BUT NOBODY HAD A BETTING APP ON THE PHONE.

>> THE ACCESS IS NOTHING LIKE IT IS NOW.

I GOT INTRODUCED TO MY FIRST BOOKIE IN COLLEGE AND YOU HAD TO TAKE A THREE-HOUR TRIP TO GET TO A CASINO OR MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD GO TO LAS VEGAS FOR FINAL FOUR AND YOU GO TO THE CAN THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND BET THROUGH THE BOOKIES.

I BET SMALL AMOUNTS FOR YEARS BUT THIS IS THE PROGRESSIVE ADDICTION LIKE ALCOHOLISM OR DRUG ADDICTION OVER ANY CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF TIME IT ONLY TAKES US CROSSING THAT LINE ONE-TIME WHERE WE GAMBLE MONEY WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE AND IT CAN GET DANGEROUS QUICK.

I GAMBLED AT HIGH-RISK I WAS SEPARATED FROM MY WIFE BECAUSE OF MY ALCOHOLISM AND I TURNED TO THE CASINO TO ESCAPE AND AT THE TIME I JUST DIDN'T CARE.

I DIDN'T CARE AND THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL GAMBLING AT HIGH-RISK.

I WAS UNDER FINANCIAL STRAIN, STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MY HEALTH AND I HAD NO BUSINESS GAMBLING AND I STARTED CHASING MY LOSSES.

>> Jeff: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IT MEANS THE NEXT BET IS I'M GOING TO WIN IT ALL BACK?

>> I CHASED MY LOSSES A LITTLE BIT A LOT OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS.

IN OTHER WORDS I GAMBLED LONGER THAN I PLANNED AND GAMBLED MORE THAN I PLANNED MANY, MANY TIMES WHEN I TOOK TRIPS TO THE CASINOS OR GAMBLED WITH THE BOOKIE BUT NOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT DESTROYED MY LIFE.

BUT IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN I WAS HIGH-RISK I HAD THAT I DON'T CARE GO BIG OR GO HOME ATTITUDE.

I'M LOSING EVERYTHING ANYWAY.

AND I PUT CASH ADVANCES ON MY CREDIT CARDS WHICH I HAD NEVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

WHEN YOU ARE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT AND CREDIT CARDS PAYING 25% INTEREST, WHATEVER YOU ARE, YOU START GAMBLING DESPERATELY AND RECKLESSLY AND THAT IS WHEN IT GETS REALLY DANGEROUS.

>> Jeff: HEATHER TELL ME ABOUT YOUR OPERATION.

HOW MANY COUNSELORS DO YOU HAVE?

AND WHAT SORT OF CALL VOLUME DO YOU GET?

AND IT'S 1-800 GAMBLER.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING PEOPLE CAN TAKE FROM THIS INTERVIEW IS WE HAVE THE 1-800-HELP LINE HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

YOU CAN CALL, TEXT OR CHAT 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A STAFF OF 15.

WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED AN INCREASE IN CALLS FOR HELP.

AS FAR AS WILL'S CONCERNED HE'S GOT THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDER HIM NOW.

WE ARE LOOKING TO GET THREE MORE.

>> Jeff: SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH THIS?

>> YES.

THIS EXPERIENCE THAT WILL HAS IS-GREAT VALUE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEKING HELP.

BECAUSE HE SHOWS PEOPLE HOPE.

THEY CAN GET TO THAT OTHER SIDE JUST LIKE HE DID.

SO WHEN THESE CALLS OF DESPAIR COME IN, HE CAN CALM THEM DOWN AND HELP THEM TO GET THE RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP THEM.

>> Jeff: WHO IS CALLING YOU?

IS IT MEN?

WOMEN?

OLDER PEOPLE?

YOUNGER PEOPLE?

>> SO WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CALLS FROM YOUNG PEOPLE AND I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR EARLY 20s UP UNTIL MID-30s.

AND OR THEIR PARENTS.

SO AS WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT HOW IT'S THE MOBILE ACCESS HAS INCREASED, ACCESSIBILITY AS WELL AS CONVENIENCE, AND THAT'S WHERE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN ACT BECAUSE THEY ARE SO USED TO USING THEIR PHONES.

AND SO WHEN THEY ARE BEING OFFERED FREE MONEY THROUGH HEAVY ADVERTISING, THEIR BRAIN IS NOT FULLY DEVELOPED YET SOME OF THE YOUNGER FOLKS THEY ARE GETTING HOOKED QUICKER AND WE GET CALLS FROM PARENTS OR KIDS YOU KNOW, YOUNGER, PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAID THEY'VE LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THE NIGHT BEFORE.

>> Jeff: DID YOU SAY THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM MAKE PRESENTATIONS AT SCHOOLS?

>> WE DO, ACTUALLY.

THIS MONTH ALONE THIS IS PROBLEM GAMBLING AWARENESS MONTH EVERY MARCH SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE AT THAT TIME WE NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

OFTENTIMES PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PROBLEM GAMBLING OR THE RISKS OF GAMBLING.

THIS MONTH ALONE, WE PROBABLY HAVE DONE 10 HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND WHEN I STARTED AT THE CENTER ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, ALL I DID WAS PREVENTION.

I WOULD BE KNOCKING ON DOORS.

NOBODY WANTED ME TO COME AND SPEAK TO THEIR GROUP OR TEACH THEM ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT PROBLEM GAMBLING.

SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE GETTING CALLS FROM HIGH SCHOOLS NOW, IT JUST BLOWS ME AWAY.

I MEAN WE'RE HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THEM AND TO TALK TO THE KIDS AND HOPEFULLY PREVENTED THE PROBLEM.

BUT IT WAS A BIG SURPRISE THAT WE WERE RECEIVING THE CALLS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

>> Jeff: REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR GAMBLING ADDICTION EXPERTS SEND US AN E-MAIL LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

WILL, HOW DO YOU GET BETTER?

HOW DO YOU HELP SOMEBODY?

>> LIKE HEATHER WAS SAYING WE CAN RELATE.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN SOMEBODY CALLS THE NUMBER AND ARE CONNECTED TO US, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY IN RECOVERY UNDERSTANDS THIS ADDICTION.

A LOST OF PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE CRAZY THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN IT HAS A GRIP ON US IT'S AS POWERFUL AS A DRUG ADDICTION.

I AM A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC AND IN THE END THE GAMBLING WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP THAN ALCOHOL.

>> Jeff: PLENTY OF FORMS OF GAMBLING OFFERED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

IS THERE ANYTHING ESPECIALLY ADDICTIVE?

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> I KNOW SLOT MACHINES FOR SURE, THE TECHNOLOGY IN THAT.

WHICH IS ALSO IN A LOT OF GAMING ACTIVITIES WHICH IS SAD BECAUSE IT IS AN UNREGULATED MARKET.

>> AN ALGORITHM.

>> IT'S THE TECHNOLOGY THEY USE.

A BOOK CALLED ADDICTION BY DESIGN IF YOU WANT TO READ IT.

IT'S SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY IN THOSE MACHINES AND GAMES WITH THE LIGHTS AND THE SOUNDS AND HIJACKS THE BRAIN AND I HEAR THAT FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY PLAY SLOTS AND WE SEE IT IN OUR YOUTH, TOO.

GAMING IS THE GATEWAY TO GAMBLING.

NOW WITH THE SPORTS GAMBLING YOU HAVE ALL THE PROP PLAYS THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE BACK WHEN I WAS GAMBLING YOU BET ON A TEAM, BET ON THE TOTAL AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE THE GAME IS OVER.

NOW, YOU CAN GET THOSE CONSTANT DOPAMINE HITS THROUGH OUGHT THE GAME.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE BETS LIKE?

THE NEXT PITCH OR WHATEVER?

SY.

THE NEXT PITCH, HOW MANY POINTS A PAYER IS GOING TO HAVE.

HOW MANY YARDS THE DEFENSE IS GOING TO HAVE.

THE ONLY TIME I COULD EVER BET MY BOOKIE WOULD DO IT FOR SUPER BOWL.

YOU COULD BET ON HEADS OR TAILS.

I WOULD KNOW WHETHER I WAS UP OR DOWN MONEY.

YOU CAN BET A LOT MORE RECKLESSLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT TWO OR THREE HOURS FOR THE GAME TO BE OVER YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

>> Jeff: THERE WAS A STUDY THAT THE STATE FUNDED I DON'T KNOW THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT HAVE DIRECTED IT, AND SO THE STATE LOOKED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PROBLEM GAMBLERS.

AND THE NUMBER, I REMEMBER, WAS 3%.

AND EVERYBODY THOUGHT GREAT IT'S JUST 3%.

3% IS 100,000 MARYLANDERS AND YOU WERE TELLING ME THE NUMBER IS NOW NORTH OF 3%.

>> RIGHT.

SO CURRENTLY THE CURRENT STUDIES SHOWS 5.7% OF MARYLAND RESIDENTS HAVE A GAMBLING DISORDER.

SO THAT WOULD BE ABOUT ONE IN 20 ADULTS.

SO THE SURVEY WAS 18 AND OVER.

BUT THAT'S INCREASED FROM WHEN SPORTS BETTING BEFORE IT WAS LEGALIZED IT WAS AT ABOUT 4%.

SO IT WAS LOWER.

SO, YEAH, WE'RE SEEING INCREASES FOR SURE.

>> AND ALSO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IT AFFECTS SEVEN TO 10 PEOPLE AROUND THAT PERSON WITH THE GAMBLING ADDICTION THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.

THE POPULATION IN MARYLAND IS 6.1 MILLION AND IT'S LIKE 400,000 WITH THE GAMBLING ADDICTION TIMES SEVEN OR 10 THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

>> Jeff: YOU WERE TELLING ME THIS WAS SO SERIOUS IN YOUR CASE YOU WERE PLANNING TO END YOUR LIFE?

>> THIS HAS THE HIGHEST RISK OF SUICIDE THIS ADDICTION BECAUSE IT'S FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING AND EASIER TO HIDE THAN A SUBSTANCE USE ADDICTION.

FOR THAT REASON A LOT OF TIMES SOMEONE DOESN'T FIND OUT A LOVED ONE WAS STRUGGLING UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

WE ARE KEEPING IT TO OURSELVES BUT THE FINANCIAL DEVASTATION A LOT OF US, WE BASE OURSELF WORTH ON MONEY.

THAT IS JUST THE SOCIETY WE LIVE IN.

AND WHEN YOU ARE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT AND USING EVERYTHING THAT MEANT ANYTHING TO YOU, IT'S PRETTY TOUGH ON THE MENTAL HEALTH.

>> Jeff: IF YOU COULD SAY ONE THING TO ONE OF THESE CLASSROOMS FULL OF 16, 17-YEAR-OLDS, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW?

>> I PRESENT IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS A LOT OF TIMES.

AND I TELL THEM I'M NOT PREACHING AND WE ARE NOT SAYING GAMBLING IS BAD.

95% OF THE PEOPLE CAN KEEP IT FUN AND SAFE.

I TELL THEM I HAVE REGRETS AND I'M HERE TO SHARE MY LIVED EXPERIENCE AND HOPEFULLY IF IT'S ONE PERSON IN THE CLASSROOM FROM REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKES I DID, I HAVE A LOT OF REGRETS FROM THE AGE OF 19 YEARS OLD.

IT THREW ME OFF MY TRACK.

LIKE I SHARED WITH YOU I WAS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY FOR 28 YEARS.

I HAD A COLLEGE DEGREE.

I HAD DREAMS AND AMBITIONS BUT I SLIPPED INTO THAT PARTY LIFE ATMOSPHERE OF GAMBLING AND DRINKING AND IT HELD ME PACK IF CHASING MY DREAMS.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT A LOT.

HEARING IT FROM THE PARENTS CALLING UP AND THEIR SONS AND SOMETIMES DAUGHTERS AND THEY ARE HANGING OUT IN THE BASEMENTS, GAMING OR GAMBLING AND CANNABIS IS A BIG START WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THE YOUTH WASTE THEIR FUTURES.

>> AND THE KEY, REALLY IS WELLNESS.

SO WE JUST PASSED LEGISLATION LAST YEAR TO PUT PROBLEM GAMBLING ADDICTION EDUCATION WITHIN THE SUICIDE PREVENTION CURRICULUM WITHIN THE HEALTH, EDUCATION CURRICULUM IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

SO IT FITS RIGHT IN WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

SO IF SOMEONE HAS POSITIVE COPING STRATEGIES THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE A GAMBLING ADDICTION.

WE GET STRESSED OUT AND FACE CHALLENGES IN OUR LIFE BUT HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT?

WE TRY TO REINFORCE WITH THE YOUTH THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TALK TO A FRIEND.

TAKE A WALK.

LISTEN TO MUSIC.

WHATEVER THEIR COPING STRATEGY IS, LIKE GAM BHELLING IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO COPE WITH STRESS.

>> Jeff: BEST ADVICE FOR SOMEBODY WATCHING WHO IS STARTING TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LOSING CONTROL?

OR FAMILY MEMBER OF SOMEBODY WATCHING WHO KNOWS THEIR LOVED ONE IS HEADING DOWN THIS PATH?

WHERE DO THEY START?

>> FIRST OF ALL CATCH IT QUICK.

DON'T CHASE YOUR LOSSES.

BECAUSE IT ENDS UP BEING LIKE QUICK SAND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE STUCK AND CAN'T GET OUT.

AND IF YOU WIN, YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE THAT BACK AND CHASING YOUR LOSSES AND START SUCH A BAD CYCLE BUT LIKE WE HAVE TO TELL THE PARENTS A LOT OF TIMES UNTIL SOMEBODY IS READY TO ACCEPT HELP AND READY TO ACCEPT THEIR LOSSES SOMETIMES YOU CAN SET HEALTHY BOUNDARIES AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION IN A CARING WAY AND LET YOU KNOW TAR YOU ARE THERE FOR THEM AND REACH OUT AND GET HELP.

SOMEBODY HAS TO BE READY.

WE KNOW WE CAN'T FORCE ANYBODY TO BE READY UNTIL THEY'RE READY.

WE CAN ENCOURAGE THEM AND THAT IS WHAT IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT GAMBLING ADDICTION VERSUS SUBSTANCE USE SOMETIMES WE GET THAT WIN AND WE GET THAT POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND GAMBLING MAYBE THE PROBLEM WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AS A SOLUTION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HIT THAT BIG WIN AND GET BACK OUR LOSSES AND WE THINK IT IS THE ONLY WAY OUT.

>> Jeff: FIRST STEP YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO TAKE?

>> I'D SAY CALL IN AND TALK TO SOMEONE LIKE WILL.

HE IS VERY APPROACHABLE AND HIS STAFF IS, TOO.

JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU FOR BEING SO APPROACHABLE YOU CAME TO TALK TO US ON TV WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> APPRECIATE IT, JEFF, THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Jeff: NOW FOR MANY PEOPLE SPRING CLEANING MEANS CLEARING OUT OLD PAPERS.

JOINING US WITH ADVICE IS CLAY CAMPBELL OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF GREATER MARYLAND.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

YOU HAVE A SHREDDING EVENT COMING UP, TELL US ABOUT IT?

>> WE DO.

SO THIS IS OUR 20TH YEAR AS BBB DOING SHRED DAY HERE IN MARYLAND.

WE ARE GOING TO BE AT THE MARYLAND STATE FAIR GROUNDS AND WE WILL BE AT IKEA IN WHITE MARSH PROVIDING FREE DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION FOR ANYONE WHO HAS OLD MAIL, OLD BANK INFORMATION, OLD TAX RECORDS THIS IS A POSITIONED AROUND TAX SEASON WHEN YOU ARE DONE FILING YOUR TAXES YOU CAN COME TO THE HE SHD DAY AND GET RID OF THE INFORMATION YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE WRONG HANDS.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE THE DATES HANDY?

>> I DO.

IT'S GOING TO BE SATURDAY APRIL 25, 8-11 OR UNTIL THE SHRED TRUCKS FILL UP.

WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME OUT IF YOU COME EARLY YOU KNOW IF YOU ENDED UP SHOWING UP LATER OUR TRUCKS MIGHT BE FILLED SO COME EARLY 8-11, SATURDAY THE 25TH OF APRIL.

>> Jeff: I'VE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF THEM AND THE THING THAT STANDS OUT IS THE PEOPLE LOOK REALLY HAPPY ONCE THEY HAVE DROPPED OFF THEIR BOX OF STUFF.

IT'S LIKE SOME SORT OF UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE, A BURDEN HAS BEEN LIFTED.

>> IT IS A GREAT TIME TO JUST GET RID OF THAT CLOSET FULL OF OLD PAPERS YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN STORING.

IT IS A RELIEF TO KNOW WHEN ALL OF THAT DOCUMENTS ARE GONE THEY ARE NOT IN THE WRONG HANDS THEY ARE SAFELY SHREDDED BY IRON MOUNTAIN.

ALL OF THE DUPTS ARE RECYCLED AFTER THEY ARE SHREDDED, THEY ARE PULPED AND RECYCLED SO IT IS A GREEN EVENT AS WELL.

AND IT IS AN EVENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT AND SUPER HAPPY, SUPER RELIEVED TO BE DONE WITH THAT PART OF THEIR SPRING CLEANING THIS YEAR.

>> Jeff: IRON MOUNTAIN SHREDDER IS BETTER THAN MY HOME SHREDDER I'M GUESSING?

>> DEFINITELY BETTER THEY SHRED IT INTO TINY PIECES AND, AGAIN, THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE SHREDDED ARE RECYCLED.

SO YOU ARE NOT JUST THROWING IT INTO YOUR GARBAGE, IF YOU HAVE A SHREDDER AT HOME THAT'S GREAT.

IF YOU DON'T OR IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO BE PROFESSIONALLY SHREDDED IF YOU HAVE OLD PASSPORTS OR DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT MIGHT NOT FIT THROUGH YOUR SHREDDER THEY CAN COME TO OUR SHRED DAY OR ANY SHREDDER EVENT MY TIME IS TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO DESTROY THEIR DOCUMENTS SO THEY DON'T FALL INTO SCAMMERS' HANDS.

>> Jeff: WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE SHRED AND NOT SHRED BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS UNSHREDDING?

>> EXACTLY.

OLD TAX FORMS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, AFTER YOU SHOULD SAVE THOSE OLD TAX DOCUMENTS FOR THREE YEARS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DESTROY UNTIL YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE I.R.S.

'S TAX RETURN PROCESS PROPERLY.

BUT YOU SHOULD SHRED BANK AND CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS PREAPPROVED CREDIT CARD OFFERS.

OLD PAY STUBS, MEDICAL BILLS ANYTHING WITH ACCOUNT NUMBERS OR EVEN SOMETHING AS MENIAL AS YOUR ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER.

ANYTHING THAT HAS YOUR PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.

THE ONLY THING YOU CANNOT BRING TO SHRED DAY, YOU CAN'T BRING GIANT BINDERS WITH METAL.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE SHOW UP WITH HUGE BOOKS THAT THEY WANT TO BE SHREDDED.

JUST ANYTHING WITH STAPLES AND PAPER CLIPS ARE FINE BUT THINGS WITH BINDERS CANNOT BE SHREDDED.

>> Jeff: FOR THE MOST PART THE I.R.S.

SAYS THREE YEARS AND THEN SOMETIMES IT'S SEVEN YEARS.

MAYBE THAT'S THE SAFER NUMBER THERE?

>> TO BE SAFE, KEEP YOUR RECORDS FOR SEVEN YEARS.

IF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH AND YOU'VE LOOKED AT YOUR PAPERWORK AND YOU KNOW YOU CAN SHRED YOUR OLD TAX DOCUMENTS SAFELY WITHOUT HAVING TO REFERENCE THEM BRING THEM OUT TO THE BBB'S SHRED KAY IT IS A -- DAY IT IS A GREAT TIME TO SHRED THE TAX DOCUMENTS ONCE YOU KNOW YOU ARE SAFE TO DO SO.

>> Jeff: AND THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KEEP FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IF YOU ARE A HOMEOWNER AND YOU HAVE RECORDS OF MONEY THAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN IMPROVING THE HOUSE, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED THAT BECAUSE IT MAY COME INTO PLAY WHEN YOU GO TO SELL THE PROPERTY.

>> DEFINITELY KEEP OLD INFORMATION ON YEAH, EXACTLY THOSE THINGS.

THAT PROVIDE VALUATION FOR YOUR HOME.

YOU KNOW, KEEP THINGS LIKE INSURANCE RECORDS.

YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY KEEP AHOLD OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO REFERENCE WHEN YOU SELL SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN.

SO DON'T BRING THAT KIND OF STUFF TO BBB'S SHRED DAY PUT IT IN A SAFE OR A PLACE THAT YOU KNOW IS NOT GOING TO BE DAMAGED BY WATER OR FIRE, KEEP THOSE RECORDS SAFE.

>> Jeff: AND THE BACKGROUND ON THIS IS THE EPIDEMIC OF FRAUD.

WE REALLY DON'T WANT OUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS CIRCULATING OUT THERE.

>> RIGHT.

MARYLAND EVERY YEAR, THE REASON WE DO THIS EVENTS IS MARYLAND IS IN THE TOP 10 EVERY YEAR FOR THE STATES TO BE IN THE FTC'S REPORTS THAT THEY SEND OUT EVERY YEAR, THE FTC REFERENCES MARYLAND AS THE TOP 10 VICTIM LOCATION IN THE ENTIRE U.S.

WE ARE A SMALL STATE BUT WE ARE THE TARGETS OF SCAMMERS.

LAST YEAR, THE FTC'S RECORDS SAID WE WERE NUMBER SIX ON THE NUMBER OF REPORTED FRAUD ATTEMPTS.

SO IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR MARYLANDERS SPECIFICALLY TO FOCUS ON TO GET OUT OF THE TOP 10.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE TOP 10 NUMBER.

>> Jeff: I AM AFRAID I AM IN THE TOP 10.

YOU'VE PROBABLY GOTTEN SOME OF THESE LETTERS I'VE GOTTEN HALF A DOZEN LETTERS THAT SOME COMPANY HAS BEEN HACKED THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WRITES THEM SOME LAW FIRM.

AND XYZ MEDICAL CENTER WE TAKE YOUR DATA SERIOUSLY SO WE ARE SORRY TO REPORT THAT THE HACKERS GOT EVERYTHING.

THEY'VE GOT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, THEY'VE GOT YOUR PHONE NUMBER, YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS AND TO COMPENSATE WE WILL GIVE YOU FREE CREDIT REPORTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WONDER IF IT'S NOT FOR MOST PEOPLE A LOST CAUSE AND WE SHOULDN'T ALL JUST GO FREEZE OUR CREDIT REPORTS.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ALL OF OUR OFFICES WHENEVER WE GET A CALL FROM A PERSON THAT SAYS WHAT DO I DO I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT MY INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

FREEZE YOUR CREDIT LIKE DEFAULT.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS FOR EVERYONE FREEZE YOUR CREDIT WITH THE THREE CREDIT BUREAUS, EXPERRIAN, TRANS UNION, EXWHAT FAX YOU CAN DO IT FOR FREE, WHENEVER YOU CAN UNFREEZE IT VERY EASILY.

YOU NEED TO REMEMBER YOUR LOG IN INFORMATION FOR THOSE THREE CREDIT BUREAUS AND THAT PREVENTS YOUR INFORMATION FROM BEING USED TO OPEN UP NEW CREDIT CARDS PEOPLE CANNOT APPLY FOR CREDIT WITH YOUR INFORMATION IF IT'S BEEN FROZEN.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO JUST DO THAT AND YOU KNOW THAT AT BASELINE, YOUR INFORMATION IS RELATIVELY SAFE.

>> Jeff: ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST THE ON-LINE DELIVERY OF BANK STATEMENTS AND CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> I PERSONALLY I HAVE ALL OF MY INFORMATION WITH MY BANKING MY CREDIT CARDS, E-MAILED TO ME SO I DON'T HAVE TO SHRED MY INFORMATION AND I KNOW THAT IS IF IT'S LOST IN THE MAIL I CAN GO BACK TO MY E-MAILS IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR PASSWORDS SECURE.

DO NOT LET YOUR E-MAIL BE A POINT OF ENTRY FOR THE SCAMMERS.

IT IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION FROM KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR PHYSICAL MEDIA MAILED TO YOU.

BUT FOR ME, PERSONALLY IT'S EASIER TO KEEP TRACK OF THE THINGS I HAVE ON MY PHONE AND MY COMPUTER.

>> Jeff: ALL RIGHT BACK TO THE SHREDDING EVENT, IS THERE ANY CHARGE FOR THIS?

AND GIVE US THE DATES AGAIN IF YOU DON'T MIND AND ALSO PEOPLE CAN GOOGLE SHREDDING NEAR ME AND THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING.

>> YEP, BBB SHRED DAY, YOU WILL FIND BOTH LOCATIONS ARE IKEA AND WHITE MARSH AND FAIRGROUNDS APRIL 258-11.

IT'S FREE.

ANYBODY CAN COME.

WE ENCOURAGE DONATIONS TO THE BBB GREATER MARYLAND FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WE DO.

AGAIN, THERE'S NO EXPECTATION.

COME, BRING YOUR FOUR BOXES OR BAGS OF DOCUMENTS AND SHRED FOR FREE THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AT BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

>> Jeff: AND GET READY TO SEE REALLY HAPPY PEOPLE.

RIGHT?

>> YEAH, IT IS A GREAT TIME.

WE GIVE OUT FREE BAGS WE HAVE SOME AMAZING VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP GET YOU THROUGH THE LINE QUICKLY.

YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH US AND WALK AWAY WITH SOME GOOD MATERIAL TO TAKE HOME AND HAVE FUN WITH.

>> Jeff: CLAY CAMPBELL OF THE BBB WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE", THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

THAT IS FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]