Continuing his commitment to helping Rhode Island resident protect against identity theft, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin is teaming up with Infoshred to offer free shredding services this month, the first of several events planned throughout the year.
The first event will be held on Thursday, June 15th, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Lincoln Senior Center, located at 150 Jenckes Hill Road in Lincoln, RI. The shredding service is free and open to the public. All consumers are invited to drop off up to two boxes or two paper shopping bags of documents for shredding, and are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
Every year, scores of Americans have their identities stolen, with the U.S. Department of Justice estimating that approximately 16.6 million people nationwide experience identity theft annually. While data breaches at major retailers make headlines, many scam artists use much more low-tech methods to gain access to your personal information – like digging through your trash.
One of the easiest ways to prevent identity theft is by shredding documents that contain personal information, such as bank statements, investment statements, bills and credit card offers.
"Like a lot of folks, I toss bills, statements, and other sensitive documents I no longer need in a box next to my desk until they can be safely shredded. It's a great habit that more and more Rhode Island consumers are picking up. I am pleased to once again be able to offer free shredding services to consumers, and I am grateful for Infoshred as our partner in helping to stamp out identity theft," said Attorney General Kilmartin.
"Infoshred takes great pride in being able to give back into the communities that we serve. In conjunction with the Attorney General's office we are happy to help safeguard the citizens of Rhode Island against identity theft," said Stacey DiPiazza, owner of Infoshred LLC
How it works: The secure shredding service is provided by Infoshred, whose securely locked trucks will be at the shredding event. Consumers can load their documents on the truck and receive a "certificate of destruction" from Infoshred, which certifies that all documents collected will be handled and destroyed with the highest degree of security. Materials are transported back to Infoshred's secure facility, shredded to a fine confetti and baled on a large plant-based shredder. This offers the same level of security and confidentiality as mobile shredding, but is a "greener" option than having a diesel truck running continuously. The shredded documents are then recycled, thereby keeping tons of material out of Rhode Island landfills.
About the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit The Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit investigates and mediates consumer complaints concerning unfair and unlawful business practices and misleading advertising arising out of alleged violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. If groups of people are victimized by a deceptive trade practice, this office may file in the Superior Court a civil investigative demand, which is a formal investigation. In appropriate cases, a lawsuit to stop the illegal business practice may be initiated.
Apart from carrying out its statutory responsibilities, the Unit also provides information and referral services to the general public. Consumers are directed to the appropriate governmental or private agencies for help in answering specialized questions or resolving disputes that are not within the Unit's jurisdiction.
The Consumer Protection Unit is available to speak to community groups on how to prevent being a victim of identity theft and other scams. If you believe you are a victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Consumer Protection Unit by calling (401) 274-4400 or email at consumers@riag.ri.gov.
About Infoshred Infoshred was established to provide secure destruction of valuable business information. The company began in 1993 as a division of Recyclers LLC, a South Windsor, CT recycling business.
In 1997 Infoshred was purchased by its first employee, Stacey DiPiazza, and organized as Infoshred LLC, a State of Connecticut certified Minority/Woman-Owned Business. The company is a Charter Member of the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID), was an early adopter of the NAID Certification Program, and maintains Certification for secure on-site and off-site document destruction services.
Infoshred has emerged from its humble 2-person, 1-truck, shared space beginnings to an exclusive, high-security facility housing a heavy investment in efficient, state-of-the-art software and equipment. Today Infoshred employs 34 people and operates 24 trucks, providing the highest level of services including mobile paper shredding to clients across Southern New England.
For more information, please visit the company's website at www.infoshred.com.