New Yorkers Line Up For Free Document Shredding Event In Midtown
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New Yorkers lined up in Midtown Tuesday, eager to have documents shredded in an effort to protect against identity theft.
With boxes, bags and shopping carts, people waited along 43rd Street between 10th and 9th avenues for Shred Fest 2016.
The free shredding event sponsored by AARP is part of a statewide series of events to provide secure destruction of personal financial records and other sensitive documents.
"With just a few pieces of personal data, information about a credit card, information about phone numbers and Social Security numbers, scammers can steal medical benefits, empty bank accounts and create chaos in people's lives," Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said.
One man named Tom stood on the long line with two years worth of papers in a bag, but he wanted to be realistic.
"I've been lucky so far, I think however that it's naive to think that absolutely everything about me is not already out there somewhere," he told 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa.
Schneiderman also noted the telephone is the preferred medium for scammers, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported. His advice is that the phone is a one way street. You should get information but never give information on the phone.
For more information as well as additional Shred Fest times and locations, click here.
