Consumers and businesses are invited to protect their identities by shredding confidential documents at two free paper shredding events this spring.
The first will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012 in the north parking lot of the 900 Howe Ave location of River City Bank in Sacramento. Mobile shredding trucks will be on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to assist in shredding up to six boxes of documents per individual, compliments of American Mobile Shredding. Boxes one through three are free to shred. A $3 donation for boxes four, five and six is requested to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Sacramento.
The second event will take place Saturday, May 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Community Bank of San Joaquin, 44 Yokuts Ave, Stockton. Consumers can shred up to five banker-size boxes of documents for free, courtesy of Pacific Shredding.
In 2010, identity theft cost Americans $37 billion and affected 8.1 million adults, according to Javelin Research & Strategy. The average consumer lost $631 to identity theft.
“Identity theft is a serious crime affecting a wide population,” said Gary Almond, president of BBB serving Northeast California.“Shredding sensitive documents is an excellent way to help in preventing the crime.”
Consumers are urged to shred anything containing financial information, account numbers, PINs, birth dates or Social Security numbers.
For more information, contact BBB at 916-443-6843 or visit necal.bbb.org.
BBB offers the following top five ways consumers can safeguard their identities, in addition to shredding sensitive documents
1. Check your credit report at least once each year. There is only one source authorized to give you one free annual credit file disclosure each year from each of the three consumer credit reporting companies: Call 877-322-8228 or visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com
2. Keep your computer system and browser software up to date, and set to the highest security level you can tolerate.
3. Never use e-mail to communicate sensitive personal information such as your user name, password, Social Security number or credit card number.
4. Don’t store passwords, tax returns or other financial information on your computer hard drive.
5. Don’t use your cell phone to store credit card numbers or other financial information.
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Our April 21st Secure Your ID Day was a great success! Thanks to everyone who came out to shred.
Our next shred day will be October 20th, 2012.
Some photos from participating BBBs nationwide:
Wisconsin |
Central East Texas |
Central Georgia |
Fargo |
Dayton |
Maryland |
Southeast Texas |
Cleveland |
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