Other LanguagesSEATTLE – If your Labor Day weekend plans include catching up on household chores, take note: The Attorney General’s Office has scheduled free community shredding events this September and October to help you safely dispose of those old bank statements, cancelled checks and other sensitive papers that have piled up in your home office or attic.
The shredathons are part of a 14-city statewide tour, “GUARD IT! Washington,” to educate business owners and consumers on how to keep their personal data safe. The campaign also includes free community forums led by Attorney General Rob McKenna and featuring identity theft experts from AARP and the Federal Trade Commission.
More than 5,000 Washington residents become victims of identity theft each year according to reports from the Federal Trade Commission. That ranks Washington in the top 10 states for per capita victim reports. One way to protect yourself is to shred sensitive documents instead of throwing them in the trash or recycling bin, where they can be stolen by an identity thief.
Following are a list of upcoming shredding events and public forums.
SHORELINE: September 4, Tuesday, Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave. N.
- FREE SHREDDING from 5 to 7 p.m. donated by Data Base Secure Records Destruction, parking lot near building 2900
- IDENTITY THEFT FORUM: 6:30 to 8 p.m., room 2925
VANCOUVER: September 6, Thursday, Washington State School for the Blind, 2214 E. 13th St.
- FREE SHREDDING from 5 to 7 p.m. donated by Iron Mountain, parking lot
- IDENTITY THEFT FORUM: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Fries Auditorium
SEQUIM: September 19, Wednesday, Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.
- FREE SHREDDING from 5 to 7 p.m. donated by Turbo Shred, parking lot
- IDENTITY THEFT FORUM: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Council Chambers in the Transit Center
OLYMPIA: October 4, Thursday, Capitol Campus, 416 Sid Snyder Ave. S.W.
- FREE SHREDDING from 5 to 7 p.m. donated by LeMay Mobile Shredding, a nearby parking lot
- IDENTITY THEFT FORUM: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Cherberg Building, State Senate Hearing Room 1
OAK HARBOR: October 18, Thursday, Skagit Valley College – Oak Harbor Campus, 1900 S.E. Pioneer Way
- FREE SHREDDING from 5 to 7 p.m. donated by Data Base Secure Records Destruction, parking lot
- IDENTITY THEFT FORUM: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Hayes Hall-137
Register for a forum online at www.guarditwashington.com or call toll-free 1-800-646-2283. Walk-ins welcome.
For more information on the tour, including additional events for business leaders, visit www.guarditwashington.com.
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Contacts: J. Ryan Shannon, Media Relations Manager, (360) 753-2727
Kristin Alexander, Media Relations Manager, (206) 464-6432