Call 4 Action: Guarding Against Identity Theft

'Secure Your ID' Day Scheduled For Saturday

POSTED: 5:03 pm EDT September 19, 2008
UPDATED: 6:37 pm EDT September 19, 2008

PITTSBURGH -- Since April, nearly half a dozen local companies, and many more individuals, have been victimized by identity theft and fraud.

Despite repeated warnings, it appears many individuals are falling victim as a result of something they may have failed to do.

Watch Aaron Saykin's Report

When it comes to identity thieves, one man’s trash is certainly another man’s treasure.

“Sure we were frustrated – we were shocked,” said identity theft victim Larry Hill.

Hill, of Wilkinsburg, knows what can happen when thieves get a hold of other people’s mail.

Hill said someone in his neighborhood stole his financial and credit card information, leaving him among the 8 million identity theft victims per year.

However, it’s not just individuals who are being victimized.

“Since April 2008, we've seen a dozen instances where scam artists have stolen the credit card or checking account information from local companies,” said Warren King of the Better Business Bureau.

Some may have been targets of sophisticated theft, but it's also possible others were not careful with their trash.

In August 2007, Team 4 discovered hundreds of medical records, complete with Social Security numbers, discarded alongside a dumpster in Washington County.

When disposing mail with personal information, the Better Business Bureau encourages everyone to invest in a shredder.

“For an investment of less than $20, it could save you a lot of hassle and heartache if you are a victim of ID theft,” said King.

Hill bought a shredder and said it’s a piece of equipment he can’t do without.

For those who don’t own a shredder, but have a ton of paperwork and junk mail they’d like to destroy, the Better Business Bureau is setting up a massive shredding station at Roth Carpet and Floors in Monroeville on Saturday, Sept. 20.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located at 3845 Northern Pike.

It’s part of the bureau’s national program called “Secure Your ID” day.

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