Connecticut Better Business Bureau holding free document shredding and tips on identity theft protection

Second “Secure Your ID” event open to the public

Wallingford, CT – September 8, 2008 – Following a joint news conference this afternoon, Connecticut BBB President and CEO, Paulette Hotton Scarpetti and Connecticut Commissioner Jerry Farrell of the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) announced a joint program to help Connecticut consumers and business owners protect themselves from identity theft.

Both entities are holding similar free events at different times and locations to reach the greatest number of people, and help Connecticut residents get rid of sensitive personal documents.

BBB is holding its second “Secure Your ID” event Saturday, September 20, 2008 in New Haven and Stratford, CT. The program is referred to locally as Shred it & Forget it.
Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Hotton Scarpetti, says the event is built upon the success of BBB’s first “Secure Your ID” day in May, and as part of a collaborative effort with the DCP to educate Connecticut residents about identity theft protection.

“BBBs across the nation and Canada collected an impressive 250 tons of sensitive documents in May, and we are expecting even more people will turn out this month. The event gives residents an opportunity to safely rid themselves of a backlog of documents and receive tips on other steps they can take to protect their most valuable personal information.”

BBB invites consumers and businesses to bring documents such as credit card and banking statements, old checks, income tax returns and anything that contains personal information to be shredded for free. Each vehicle is allowed up to ten (10) boxes or bags of documents per vehicle. (Box size is limited to a standard banker’s box, approximately 10 X 12 X 15 inches.)

Your BBB stresses the importance of shredding your confidential documents, lest they be used for identity theft if not disposed of properly.

Secure Your ID day is brought to you by our Connecticut media sponsor, WICC/WEBE, and by national sponsors National Association of Information Destruction (NAID), the credit reporting agency Equifax, and locally, by Wal-Mart, Staples, Shredding Source and City Confidential Shredding, LLC, Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc, Citibank, Party-Party, Inc., Bank of America and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
Connecticut Better Business Bureau “Secure Your ID Day”
Saturday, September 20, 2008, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
New Haven, Wal-Mart, Rte. 80, 315 Foxon Blvd (exit 8, I-91) Stratford, The Dock Plaza Shopping Center, 955 Ferry Blvd. (Exits 33 off I-95 N. or Exit 34 off I-95 S.)

If you are unable to attend a BBB "Secure Your ID" event, the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is also holding a free bulk shredding for consumers on Saturday, September 13, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Consumers may bring up to three (3) large boxes or heavy duty trash bags of unneeded personal papers to the blue and white Shred-It truck at one of their six locations:
o Norwalk Community College
o Torrington Public Library
o Ellis Technical School, Danielson
o Manchester Community College
o Wallingford Senior Center
o Commuter Lot off I-95 @ Route 79 (Exit 61), Madison
For more information, please visit the Connecticut Department of
Consumer Protection web site.
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Founded in 1912, BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB offers objective advice and a wide range of education on topics affecting marketplace trust. BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses. Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than three million local and national businesses and charities. For more advice on finding companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau
94 South Turnpike Rd.
Wallingford, CT 06493

Howard Schwartz
Communications Director

This release was published on openPR.