Shred It and Forget It

Free Shredding Services August 21 at U.S. Cellular Field and September 11 at the West Suburban Bank in Downers Grove

Each year more than 8 million Americans fall victim to identity theft, according to a Javelin survey, losing over $40 billion. But now there's a free way you can protect yourself from ID thieves. You can "Shred It and Forget It."

To an identity thief, one person's trash can literally become another person's stolen treasure. By going through garbage cans and diving through dumpsters, thieves dig out documents with valuable information from names and social security numbers to bank and credit card information.

"If you're putting your personal or business information in the trash, there's a chance that somebody's going to get a hold of that and use it for purposes you don't intend," Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois President & CEO Steve J. Bernas said. "One of the most popular schemes among these low-tech identity thieves is finding pre-approved credit card offers in the trash."

The first shredding event is on Saturday, August 21 from 9AM-2PM at U.S. Cellular Field, Lot A, on the west side of Wentworth between 33rd and 35th streets, in Chicago.

The second shredding event is on Saturday, September 11 from 9AM-2PM at the West Suburban Bank, 2800 Finley Road in Downers Grove.

Hosts of the annual event include the Better Business Bureau along with the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Federal Trade Commission, United States Postal Inspection Service, Chicago Police, Illinois Attorney General's Office, and the Cook County Department of Environmental Control.

This shredding service is FREE. The Better Business Bureau and its partners are hosting Shred It and Forget It – up to ten boxes of papers shredded per person.