Free document shredding at Great Bellaire Paper Shred
When: Saturday, April 18 , 9 a.m. to Noon
Where: Community National Bank, 5123 Bellaire Boulevard
Why: Area citizens can help protect themselves against personal identity theft -- one of the nation’s fastest growing crimes. The sixth annual event offers citizens free document shredding (up to 100 lbs. per person) to help them minimize the risk of becoming victims of personal identity theft.
Identity theft may be the largest white-collar crime in the history of the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reported, "One in 6 Americans will be a victim of identity theft this year alone. In the last 12 months 9.93 million people have had some type of identity theft crime committed against them. Victims spend on average $1,200 in out-of-pocket expenses and an average of 175 hours in efforts to resolve the many problems caused by identity thieves. Criminal identity theft occurs when an impostor gives another person's name and personal information such as a drivers' license, date of birth, or Social Security number to obtain a job, housing, money, goods, or other services, according to Kroll Background America. According to the National Association for Information Destruction, the following documents should be shredded when discarded:
• Pre-approved credit applications, credit card statements and expired charge cards
• Personal medical records and physician statements
• Tax preparation worksheets, obsolete financial records and receipts
• Insurance forms, telephone bills, cancelled checks and bank statements
• Mail, old records and mailing labels from magazines
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