As part of a statewide series of free shredding events to prevent scammers from obtaining personal data, more than 300 people singed up for AARP’s Bronx iteration Friday.
AARP New York was joined by state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Sen. Jamaal Bailey at the Eastchester Church of God for the shredding event. The organization is sponsoring 27 “Fight Fraud. Shred It!” events across New York state through Saturday, June 3, to coincide with people sorting out their finances and clearing old sensitive documents after tax day.
“There’s no better time to take stock of obsolete documents with identifying information and shred them safely. We’re empowering New Yorkers to fight back against fraudsters with these popular shredding events,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York state director. “In the New York metro area, there were 202,205 reports of fraud in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That is not acceptable. Criminals keep getting more and more sophisticated, but we will not back down. AARP is combatting the shame and self-blame game people feel if they fall victim to scams and fraud. A good first step is to shred documents with identifying information.”
Crime is innovative and constantly changing. To slow it down, prevention is key. And knowledge gives individuals power over scams. AARP is also providing resources to educate consumers about fraud during the events.
“By shredding personal documents that may contain identifying information, we add another level of security, ensuring the proper destruction of vital data,” said Heastie. “The ‘Fight Fraud, Shred It!’ event is essential and teaches communities about best practices to assist in stopping scams. Thank you, AARP, for your efforts to protect New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable populations.”
AARP launched the Fraud Watch Network to arm Americans with proven tools to fight back against identity theft and scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network equips people with reliable, up-to-date insights and a free Fraud Network Helpline is available to help you and your loved ones.
AARP advocates at the state, federal and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.
The next shred event in The Bronx is scheduled for May 12 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Co-op City Greenway. Those attending the shredding events must limit materials to three small bags. The events conclude when on-site trucks are full. The sites may close early if the trucks fill up. Paper only and no magazines, newspapers, books or cardboard.
The shredding events are being conducted with support from the AARP Fraud Watch Network and the AARP Foundation. Shredding services are free of charge and open to the public. To find and register for a local shredding event across New York state, visit www.aarp.org/NYStopScams or call 1-866-227-7442.
Here’s a spring-cleaning checklist from security experts to rid your home of paper with sensitive info:
- Old documents: Papers that carry your Social Security number, birthdate, signature, account numbers, passwords or PIN numbers.
- Banking: Canceled or unused checks. Shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts
- Credit Cards: Preapproved credit card applications and incentive/gift checks from credit card companies.
- Medical: Unneeded medical bills.
- Investments: Investment account statements.
- Obsolete ID cards: Expired driver’s licenses, medical insurance cards and passports.
More information on how to keep yourself safe from identity theft fraud, and alerts regarding other types of scams, is available from the Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork.
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