BBB Event Offers Free Identity Theft Protection Guidelines and On-Site Document Shredding
Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central East Texas, invite the East Texas community to BBB “Secure Your ID” Day Saturday, October 17, 2009 at East Texas Shredding Company - Longview. Residents and small businesses are encouraged to attend the event and take a key step in identity protection by shredding and properly disposing of their sensitive documents. BBB staff will be on-site to provide expert advice and tips for identity theft protection.
“Shredding sensitive paper documents is an important step, but it doesn’t end there,” said Melissa Isham. “That’s why BBB experts will also be distributing important advice and simple steps everyone can take to prevent ID theft in their daily lives, both online and off.”
Last year alone, 8.1 million Americans became victims of ID theft, resulting in the loss of $45 billion, according to a 2008 report from Javelin Strategy and Research. The report notes that the majority (56 percent) of ID theft occurs when the thief has direct contact with the victim’s personal information, through a stolen or lost wallet, rifling through a personal mailbox or trashcan, or even lifting documents from inside a home or business.
“This is largely a crime of access,” added Isham. “Our goal here is to make the information less accessible and empower people to be their own first line of defense against identity theft.
The last BBB “Secure Your ID” Day event yielded the largest single-day consumer turnout of this kind in national history, with over 710,000 pounds of materials destroyed nationwide.
BBB Secure Your ID Day Details
Who: Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas
What: Free on-the-spot document shredding and tips and resources for protecting your identity.
When: Saturday, October 17, 2009, from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Where: East Texas Shredding Company - Longview, TX
Bring up to three boxes or bags of documents to be shredded and take home the tips and resources you need to help protect yourself. Documents to be shredded should be removed from binders, but staples, paper clips, CDs and floppy discs are okay to be shredded. Come to the BBB Shred Day and enter for a chance to win door prizes!
LOCAL SPONSORS ARE:
East Texas Shredding Company
Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas
Texas Longview Partnership
Our next Secure Your ID Day will be
October 19, 2013
Take Advantage of BBB "Secure Your ID" Day
Did you know that protecting your identity is largely in your own hands? Fifty-six percent of identity theft victims traced the theft to something that was stolen from their own possession.
So here’s the first rule: If you don’t need it, shred it – responsibly. BBB is here to help with Secure Your ID Day.
On Saturday, October 19, 2013, BBBs across North America will host this helpful identity theft prevention event featuring FREE on-site shredding plus tips to protect your identity.
