Media contact: Janet C. Hart, APR, CFEE (704) 927-8617 office
CHARLOTTE,
N.C. – The Better Business Bureau will offer FREE shredding to individuals and small businesses during its nationwide “Secure Your ID Day” - a free community shredding event
on Saturday, April 17, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m at Jay M. Robinson Middle School parking lot (
Shredding
personal documents is one of the easiest ways consumers can protect themselves
against identity theft. Consumers and small businesses are urged to clean out
their closets, offices, garages and storage units and bring documents or digital
media (computer discs, DVDs, hard drives) in boxes or trash bags to be securely
shredded on-site by Shred-It. (Limit three large boxes or trash
bags per car).
This
community shredding event is possible thanks to our local partners, Charlotte
Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte Shred-It and the U.S. Census.
Identity
theft claimed more than 10 million victims in 2008. According to a report from Javelin Strategy and Research, low-tech
methods for stealing personal information are still the most popular ways that
identity thieves access your identity. Of the cases where consumers knew how
their identity was compromised, stolen wallets and physical documents accounted
for 43 percent of all identity theft, while online methods accounted for only
11 percent.
The
BBB holds nationwide “Secure Your ID Day” events twice per year. Last spring, the BBB's shredding day was a huge success with more than 1,700 consumers
participating and 68,000 pounds of documents shredded.
If
you are not sure how long you should retain specific documents, the BBB has a
list posted at: http://www.charlotte.bbb.org/article/records-retention--a-guide-for-how-long-documents-should-be-kept-4726
Consumers
can find Protect Your Identity Week educational events, an interactive quiz,
videos, blogs and identity theft prevention tips in English at www.ProtectYourIDNow.org or in Spanish
at www.cuidesuidentidad.org.
Additional
resources are also available at www.cmpd.org
and www.shredit.com/_minisites/charlotte,
or by emailing the Financial Crimes Unit at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police
Department at fraudmail@cmpd.org.
For
more information about this shredding event, identity theft or fraud
prevention, please visit www.bbb.org or call the
BBB at (704) 927-8611 or toll-free in N.C. and S.C. at 1-(877) 317-7236.
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