Oct. 28: Free Public Shredding Day

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz is inviting residents down for four hours of free document shredding on Thursday, October 28.

The initiative is part of an effort to raise awareness about identity theft, and will help safely destroy unwanted records and documents. The event is co-sponsored by the New York Consumer Protection Board.

Here are the event details:

Thursday, October 28
Bay Academy School Yard
1401 Emmons Avenue
(located directly behind school – enter from East 15th Street)
3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Can’t make it to the event? Here are some tips from the Consumer Protection Board to avoid credit card and identity theft:

Your Cards…

• Never carry your Social Security card. Carry only those credit cards you actually need.
• Watch your credit and debit cards to prevent a stranger from skimming your card’s data.
• Do not give out personal information over the phone unless the call was initiated by you and you know to whom you are speaking.
• Exercise caution when using an ATM.
• Select businesses that avoid using your Social Security number as an identifier.
• Close any unused credit card accounts and notify the three major credit reporting agencies they’ve been closed.
• Use complex passwords for all of your accounts on and off-line.

Documents and Data Protection…

• Examine all transactions on your bank and credit card statements closely.
• Cross shred documents displaying personal information.
• Review and get a free copy of your credit report annually from the three major credit reporting agencies. (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union)

Find more tips and tools on the Consumer Protection Board website.