Senior Center to sponsor free 'shred event' Oct. 9

Date: 9/20/2010

Sept. 20, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW -- Everyone is at risk for identity theft, according to police chief Doug Mellis.

That's why he encourages everyone, regardless of age, to take advantage of the "shred event" taking place on Oct. 9 at the East Longmeadow Senior Center.

"A lot of it is geared toward our seniors in an effort to get rid of some old documents they have, like old tax returns and such, Mellis said. "But that doesn't mean it's only for seniors. Anyone who wants to take advantage of this is welcome."

According to Mellis, anyone with old documents that may contain personal information in their homes should shred those documents to prevent that information falling into the wrong hands. The event gives people an opportunity to do so without spending money on a shredder.

"Anything with bank account numbers on it, social security number, your date of birth, even your mailing address," Mellis said.

Once information of that nature is obtained, it can be used for a host of different purposes, such as credit card fraud, bank fraud or using the identity while committing other crimes, leaving the person whose identity was stolen responsible, according to the U.S. Department of Justice's Web site.

Shredding documents is a good way to prevent that information from being obtained by dishonest people who may gain access to them, whether it be an untrustworthy person working in your home who finds them either intentionally or accidentally, or a burglar.

The shredding equipment, which is provided by Pro-Shred of Wilbraham, is equipped with cameras, allowing you to see the documents being destroyed. From there, Mellis said the paper is sold to a recycling company, where it is pulverized.

Those who have concerns about their recently shredded documents being sold should not have any fear.

"I don't care how good of a crossword puzzle person you are. You'd be really challenged to put those documents back together," Mellis said. "The machines really do a good job of turning it into confetti."

Shredding is not the only way one should protect his or her identity. Many times, victims willingly hand over the information to scammers.

Phone, internet and mail scams are commonplace these days, according to Mellis, who used the example of an email he saw in which a scammer posed as a U.S. military officer in Afghanistan who found money and didn't wish to turn it in. In the scam Mellis related, the scammer asked for personal information, ranging from a home address to bank account numbers, claiming he wished to use the account to hide the money until he returned stateside, at which time they would share it.

"The sad thing is that there are some people that believe that they're truthful in what they're doing," Mellis said.

Mellis added that East Longmeadow, along with the rest of the state, continues to find ways to protect its citizens from identity theft and have for some time, using state drivers licenses as an example.

"For years, our Mass. drivers license was your social security number," Mellis said. "Now it's an 'S' number because of the potential of someone abusing your social security number."

Mellis said the shred is a free event, but those who attend are encouraged to bring a canned good, an initiative that has also been very successful.

"In years past, we've collected over two carriages-worth of groceries or canned good items and that replenishes the [town's emergency pantry]," Mellis said. The pantry isn't only available to seniors. There are a lot of families that also take advantage of it."