Shred Day is May 21: Protect your personal information

Better Business Bureau has tips

DETROIT – Many consumers write or call Help Me Hank asking where they can shred personal documents for free.

The Better Business Bureau will sponsor it's next free event on Saturday, May 21. With the crimes of identity theft and consumer fraud growing, it's crucial that you destroy any outdated documents, receipts, bank statements, and tax returns properly.

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If those items fall into the wrong hands, hackers and criminals will have the power to make your life very unpleasant and they could cost you a lot of money. The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Michigan hosts a "Secure Your ID" Day twice a year.

This year the location has changed. In the past, the event has been outside the old BBB office in Southfield. On May 21, the event will be held outside GreenPath Financial Wellness in Farmington Hills.

The BBB partners with Shred-It, GreenPath to offer financial services, and Global Electric Electronic Processing (GEEP) to securely destroy your electronic devices. Shred-It will shred up to three boxes or bags of sensitive paper documents at no charge. There will be a $10 per box/bag charged for additional bags/boxes with proceeds supporting the BBB Educational Foundation.

Global Electric Electronic Processing (GEEP) of Michigan will be on hand to collect computer hard drives, printers, copiers, scanners, desktops, laptops, keyboards, mice, cell phones, DVD and VCR players, etc. free of charge. GEEP does not accept appliances.

What to shred, what to keep

Some of you might have questions about what to shred and what you should keep for your personal records.

What to save:

1) IRS records for about 7 years.
2) Marriage license or divorce papers
3) Lawsuit records
4) Mortgage documents
5) Immigration papers

What to shred:

1) Bank statements
2) Credit card statements
3) Utility bills
4) Pay Stubs (that you no longer need for tax purposes)
5) ATM receipts

You can follow these links for more information on what to shred, and the schedule for how long to keep certain items.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/0527_shredding-infographic.pdf

http://www.bbb.org/us/storage/0/Shared%20Documents/secure%20your%20id%20day/bbb%20records%20retention%20schedule.pdf

Here are the details on the event:

When: Saturday, May 21; 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET  -- Please be in line by 12:30 pm.

Where: GreenPath Financial Wellness
36500 Corporate Dr.
Farmington Hills, MI 48331


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