Learn to protect yourself from ID theft at this event

YOUNGSTOWN —The Better Business Bureau will have “Secure Your ID” Day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Covelli Centre, formerly known as the Chevrolet Centre.

The event will give businesses and individuals the opportunity to take a key step in identity protection by shredding and properly disposing of sensitive documents. BBB staff will be on-site to provide advice and tips for identity theft protection. Participants can bring up to five boxes or bags of documents to be shredded.

“Shredding sensitive paper documents is an important step, but it doesn’t end there,” said Patricia Rose, president of the BBB. “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 trash can, or even lifting documents from inside a home or business.

“This is largely a crime of access,” added Rose. “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 more than 16,000 pounds of materials destroyed.

For more information, call (330) 744-3111 or e-mail info@youngstown.bbb.org