For the second year in a row, Florida was the state with the highest per capita rate of reported identity theft complaints. According to a 2011 report from Javelin Strategy and Research, 8.1 million Americans fell victim to identity theft, resulting in the loss of $37 billion in 2010 alone. In 2010, the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, Fla. Metropolitan Area reported 300 identity theft complaints and 1,850 other fraud complaints.
BBB is partnering with WEAR-TV, Gilmore Services, CatCountry 98.7 Radio, and Qantum Communications to host an identity protection event on Friday, Oct. 28 in Pensacola and Mary Esther. Individuals can take advantage of free on-site document shredding and take home practical tips to prevent identity theft online and off.
“The one piece of good news is that about three million fewer people nationwide were victims of identity theft in 2010 compared to 2009,” said Norman Wright, president and CEO of your BBB|Northwest Florida. “The bad news is that Florida is still the number one state for identity theft, and ‘friendly fraud’ – fraud committed by people who know their victims – increased last year; responsibly destroying your sensitive documents can help make your information less accessible.”
Details:
When: Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: University Mall, 7171 North Davis Highway, Pensacola, Fla.
Santa Rosa Mall, 300 Mary Esther Boulevard, Mary Esther, Fla.
Bring up to 50 pounds of documents to be shredded and take home tips and resources on protecting your identity. Documents to be shredded should be removed from binders, but staples and paper clips are acceptable to be shredded. Please do not tie bags or tape boxes! Please stay in your vehicle when dropping off items to be shredded.
For additional information on identity theft prevention measures, start with bbb.org.
