BBB offers free shredding during “Secure Your ID” Day

Your Better Business Bureau serving Northwest Florida and its national partners, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the National Association for Information Destruction invite individuals to take the necessary steps in protecting their identity during this year’s “Secure Your ID” Day shredding event.

BBB is partnering locally with Gilmore Services, Pensacola’s Cat Country 98.7 FM and NewsRadio 1620 and Panama City’s WJHG-TV NBC 7 to help individuals take steps to protect their personal information. BBB staff will be on-site to provide expert advice and tips for ID theft protection.

BBB and its local partners will be at Cordova Mall in Pensacola, at Sam’s Club in Panama City and at Gilmore Services new facility in Marianna on Saturday, Oct. 17, to offer free document shredding and advice and resources for protecting personal information.

During our local “Secure Your ID Day” events held last spring, 1,861 people brought approximately 54,000 pounds of sensitive documents to be destroyed by Gilmore Services and to receive information about protecting themselves from identity theft.

Contrary to popular belief, only 12 percent of identity theft is committed online. The majority of identity theft occurs when the thief has direct contact with the victim’s personal information such as through a stolen or lost wallet, or by rifling through the victim’s mailbox or trash.

“Identity theft is largely a crime of access,” said Norman Wright, President/CEO of your BBB serving Northwest Florida. “Our goal is to make the information less accessible and empower people to be their own first line of defense against identity theft.  With community-based BBBs across North America collaborating simultaneously, we’ll have a tremendous coast-to-coast presence that will hopefully, prevent a lot of theft.” 

BBB Secure Your ID Day Details

Oct. 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Cordova Mall, 5100 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola, Fla.

Sam’s Club, 1707 W. 23^rd St., Panama City, Fla.

Gilmore Services, 3553 Industrial Park Drive, Marianna, Fla.

Bring up to 50 pounds of documents to be shredded on site, free-of-charge and take home tips and resources you need to help protect yourself. Please do not tie bags.

For more information on “Secure Your ID” Day, visit www.nwfl.bbb.org/secureID and for additional advice you can trust on protecting yourself against identity theft, start with bbb.org.

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About BBB

BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability Reports^TM and charity BBB Wise Giving Reports^TM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To

further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 125 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB.

About NAID

The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) is the nonprofit trade organization of the secure destruction industry.  With over 1,200 member locations, NAID members provide secure destruction services to business and government across North America.

www.naidonline.org.

About NFCC

Founded in 1951, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), Inc., promotes the national agenda for financially responsible behavior and builds capacity for its Members to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services. The NFCC is the nations largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling network, with more than 100 Member agencies and nearly 850 offices in communities throughout the country. Each year, NFCC Members assist more than 3.2 million consumers, helping many to drive down their debt and take control of their finances.