Albuquerque Community Shred Day Aims to Prevent Identity Theft

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Personal information contained in old tax documents is a treasure trove for identity thieves.  Since breaches involving social security numbers are the most damaging, after tax season many consumers wonder how to safely dispose of unwanted documents such as bank statements, credit card receipts or medical bills that they may have used to prepare their taxes.   

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To promote personal financial safety, Bank of the West will offer a Community Shred Day on Saturday, April 27. Mobile shredding trucks will be on-site at a local Bank of the West branch as a free community service. The event will be held in collaboration with the Albuquerque Police Department, whose representatives will be onsite to offer free vehicle vin etching and answer questions.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States.  According to a 2013 Identity Fraud Report published on the Identity Theft Assistance Center website, incidents of identity fraud increased by more than one million in 2012. The study found 12.6 million victims of identity fraud in the United States last year, which equates to 1 victim every 3 seconds. Fraudsters stole more than $21 billion, the highest amount since 2009.

Community Shred Day will promote greater overall awareness of identity theft prevention. Consumers will be able to talk to bank employees to learn more about safeguarding their personal information. 

"We're drawing attention to the important issue of identity theft to encourage consumers to be mindful about how they dispose of unwanted documents, statements or receipts that could otherwise fall into the wrong hands," said Mike Lowrimore, senior vice president and New Mexico regional manager at Bank of the West.  "Bank of the West is proud to sponsor this free community service to our customers and the public, as well as promote a broader educational message of personal financial safety."

Consumers can learn more about fraud in daily life, from email security and bill collection scams to auctions and elder abuse at Bank of the West's You Tube section, "Fraud in Brief."

"Incidents of identity theft and scams continue to rise in Albuquerque as fraudsters become more sophisticated with how they obtain personal information," said Detective Joel Block of the Albuquerque Police Department. "Education and preemptive measures are still the best means of protecting yourself from becoming a victim."

About Bank of the West
Founded in 1874, $63 billion-asset Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com), member FDIC and equal housing lender, offers a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services. The bank operates more than 600 retail and commercial banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, which has a presence in 80 countries with nearly 200,000 employees.

SOURCE Bank of the West

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