AARP Shred Fest in Scottsboro on Saturday, April 30

AARP Shred Fest 2016 is a series of document-shredding events nationwide. In Alabama, we'll be in Scottsboro on Saturday, April 30 from 9 AM to Noon for this FREE public event. The Shred Fest event will be located on Caldwell Street in Scottsboro, between the Fire Department and City Hall.

The public is invited to drive up and drop off their sensitive documents and old electronics to be securely disposed of on-site. Documents will be shredded and electronics will be wiped clean of all personal information before being recycled. Please note: Limit of three bags or boxes per person, and no cardboard or three-ring binders will be accepted.

Why should you shred? Of the 3 million complaints the Consumer Sentinel Network received in 2015, 16% were complaints about identity theft – making it the 2nd most reported type of fraud in the country.

“Once the tax-filing season is behind us, many taxpayers like to do a spring cleaning of their old financial statements and other records,” said Nancy LeaMond, Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, AARP. “That’s a good idea, but remember that rifling through dumpsters and other trash receptacles is one of the main tricks of the scammer’s trade. Our Shred Fest 2016 community events will allow consumers to discard sensitive documents in a safe and secure manner.”

To avoid having your sensitive information compromised, security experts recommend shredding of the following types of materials:

• Old documents: Papers that carry your Social Security number, birth date, signature, account numbers, passwords or PIN numbers.
• Banking: Canceled or unused checks. Shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts, once you receive your monthly statements.
• Credit Cards: Preapproved credit card applications and incentive/gift checks from credit card companies.
• Medical: unneeded medical bills.
• Investments: Investment account statements.
• Obsolete ID cards: Expired driver’s licenses, medical insurance cards and passports.

AARP Alabama is co-sponsoring the event with the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama; Mix 96.9; WHNT; Document Destruction Services; Cook’s Pest Control; Champion Home Remodeling; Donny’s Diamond Gallery; Redstone Federal Credit Union; Nucor Steel; and Zerotechz.