BBB's Next “Shred Day” Is April 21 in Richmond Heights, Mo., And Edwardsville, Ill.
Consumers and businesses can protect themselves by shredding confidential documents at a special “Shred Day” on Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the south parking lot of Saint Louis Galleria and at the Schnucks supermarket at 2222 Troy Road in Edwardsville, Ill..
Shredder trucks will be available from 8 a.m. to noon. Individuals can shred up to three boxes of documents. They also will receive identity theft protection packets. Shred-It, a Securit company, is donating the shredding service. To reduce waiting time, participants are encouraged to use boxes or bags that can be shredded. Containers cannot be returned.
The cost of identity theft actually fell in 2010 to $37 billion, and the number of victims decreased to 8.1 million adults, a 28 percent decline, according to Javelin Strategy & Research, a San Francisco-based firm that studies identity theft every year. However, the average consumer lost $631, the highest level since 2007.
“Protecting yourself is a must, and shredding sensitive documents is a great way to start,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB president and CEO.
Officials recommend shredding any documents that contain financial information, account numbers, PINs, birth dates, or Social Security numbers. Examples include expired ID cards, legal documents, credit card and bank statements, canceled checks and carbon copies.
For more information, contact the the BBB at 314-645-3300. A guide to document retention is available at bbb.org/us/Identity-Theft-Resources/.
In addition to shredding outdated or unneeded documents, the BBB has 10 steps you can take to protect your identity:
- Shred statements and applications you get in the mail that you don’t want to keep. These include credit card applications, insurance forms, financial statements, health forms, billing statements from utilities and phone service.
- Cut up expired credit and debit cards. Make sure you cut through the numbers.
- Protect your Social Security number, all account numbers and passwords. Don’t carry these numbers in your wallet. Give out personal identifiers only when absolutely necessary. Beware of unsolicited e-mails and phone calls if someone asks for the numbers.
- Secure personal documents at home. If you have roommates, employ outside help or have contractors in your home, make sure person documents are in a safe place and not lying out in plain sight.
- Minimize personal information printed on checks. You don’t need to include your Social Security number, driver’s license or phone number.
- Monitor bank and credit card transactions for unauthorized transactions. Crooks may start with small transactions to see if you notice.
- Pay attention to billing cycles. If bills don’t arrive on time, follow up with your creditors.
- Don’t create obvious passwords. Avoid using your birth date, child’s name or birth date, mother’s maiden name or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- If you conduct business online, use your own computer. A public computer is less secure.
- Never use e-mail to communicate personal sensitive information, and don’t respond to e-mails asked to verify your personal information and identifiers. Neither your bank, credit card company, online payment system nor the IRS will call or e-mail asking you for confidential information. They already have it.
Join us for this spring's Secure Your ID Day
View the list of participating BBBs. As the event gets closer, the list will grow. If you don't see a BBB in your area, be sure to check back soon.