As part of the National Consumer Protection Week, the US Postal Service in Fort Worth held an Identity Theft Awareness event to help residents learn how to protect their privacy.
A mobile shredder was on hand along with the Fort Worth Police Department and the Better Business Bureau to raise awareness about the importance of shredding important documents in order to help prevent identity theft. Experts warn simply tearing sensitive documents in half is not enough.
The primary goal of the USPS event was to teach residents how to protect themselves from identity theft.
One simple step is picking up mail everyday.
“The longer their mail stays in their mail box, the more vulnerable it is to be taken by somebody else, “ says USPS Customer Relations Coordinator Kelly Pinto. “We’re trying to help them get things together so that won’t happen to them.”
Chief Postal Inspector Guy Cottrell and USPS VP & Consumer Advocate Delores J. Killette shared more helpful tips to prevent identity theft:
- Check your monthly statements.
- Shred unwanted documents containing personal information.
- Order your credit report once a year, and review it thoroughly. By law, an annual report is available at no charge at annualcreditreport.com.
- Your bank will never email or call asking for your account number. Limit the amount of personal information you give out over the phone or internet.
These efforts not only help residents prevent identity theft but also help ensure the public’s trust in the U.S. Mail by allowing the community to do their part. For more identity protection tips, visit deliveringtrust.com.
