Identity theft has been a rising issue and concern recently. Upwards of 15 million U.S. residents are victims of identity theft each year, and that number continues to rise. In total, cases of identity theft can cause nearly $50 billion in financial losses. On average, an individual who is a victim of identity theft loses $3,500.
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According to Identify Theft and Scam Prevention Services, nearly one third of Americans do not properly store or destroy their personal information. Personal information can be stolen in many different ways – whether it be digitally with phishing and vishing scams, or the old fashion way of dumpster diving and stealing mail. In today’s ever changing world, identity thieves find new ways to obtain your personal information and create situations that cause both emotional and financial distress.
Here are some tips to help prevent identity theft:
- Don’t respond to unsolicited requests for personal information by phone, mail or online.
- Collect mail promptly. Ask the post office to put your mail on hold when you are away from home for an extended period of time.
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. If bills are late, contact the sender.
- Store personal information in a safe place at home and at work.
- Shred documents that contain personal and identifiable information – receipts, credit offers, account statements, and even expired cards.
Inspire Federal Credit Union has offered free shredder days open to the community for the past 10 years. This year, they’re partnering with Middletown Township to help fight against Identity Theft. Inspire and Middletown Township will be hosting Titan Mobile Shredding on Saturday, May 7th from 9 AM – 12 PM at the Oxford Valley Mall parking lot in front of the old Strawbridge’s’ building. This event is free to the community. Community members are asked to limit their shred documents to three (3) boxes. For more information, visit Inspire Federal Credit Union.
