Released on: September 8, 2008, 12:09 pm

Press Release Author: Howard Schwartz-Director of Communications, BBB CT

Industry: Consumer Services

Press Release Summary: Connecticut Better Business Bureau holding free document
shredding and tips on identity theft protection

Press Release Body: 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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Web Site: http://www.bbb.org

Contact Details: Connecticut Better Business Bureau
94 South Turnpike Rd.
Wallingford, CT 06493
203-269-2700 ext 103