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BBB organizes community shredding event at Tillicum Centre

By-donation event set for May 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside Old Navy store
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BBB and Access Records will be providing shredding by donation at Tillicum Centre (outside Old Navy) on Friday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Pixabay photo)

The Better Business Bureau serving Vancouver Island is answering the call for businesses and individuals with confidential documents they wish to dispose of safely.

BBB and Access Records will be providing shredding by donation at Tillicum Centre (outside Old Navy) on Friday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Access Records will have their mobile shredding truck available for secure onsite shredding.

Consumers and small businesses are invited to bring up to five bags or boxes of confidential documents for shredding. BBB will direct proceeds from the by-donation event (in addition to hotdog sales) to local non-profit HeroWork to support their Radical Renovation projects.

“Contrary to popular belief, the overwhelming majority of identity theft occurs when a thief has direct contact with the victim’s personal information,” said Rosalind Scott, president and CEO of BBB serving Vancouver Island.

“Online hackers and phishing scams dominate media headlines, but nearly 90 per cent of all identity fraud happens because of stolen bank statements; lost or stolen wallets, chequebooks or credit cards; and other offline means. Getting into the habit of regularly and securely shredding confidential documents is vital to protecting yourself from identity theft.”

The BBB is offering some tips for people unsure of which documents to shred and which to hold onto.

n Keep for one year (unless needed for tax purposes): receipts, debit/ATM receipts, monthly bills, medical receipts and information, travel itineraries and information, etc.

n Keep for three years: bank or credit card statements, expired insurance policies, employment applications, etc.;

n Keep for seven years: invoices, tax returns and associated documents, cancelled stock certificates, payroll records, withholding statements, etc.;

n Keep permanently: deeds, mortgage information, receipts or warranties for major purchases for your home, audit reports, insurance records, legal correspondence, property records, etc.

For more information about BBB’s annual community shredding event go to: http://www.bbb.org/vancouver-island.