Press Releases and Media Advisories
National Protect Your Identity Week 2008 Springboard Helps Educate the Community with Free Identity Theft Awareness & Prevention Seminars
October 21, 2008, 4:42 pm
Free On-site Document Shredding Friday, October 24th ––
Millions of Americans Become Victims of Identity Theft Each Year
More than eight million Americans have their identities stolen each year. One out of every three dozen people became victims to identity theft in 2007. ID thieves are ready to prey on us, but there are ways to fight back.
Identity theft can occur in many ways. Personal information can be stolen from trash bins, the Internet, an individual’s home or place of business. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft has been the top consumer complaint for the past five years in a row. The good news is there are measures that consumers can take now to help protect themselves.
In partnership with the National Foundation of Credit Counseling (NFCC), Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management is working daily to build awareness of this problem and educate consumers. National Protect Your Identity Week will take place from October 19-25, 2008 and provide consumers nationwide the opportunity to focus on this one important aspect of overall personal financial literacy.
Victims of Identity Theft will spend an average of 600 hours resolving the issues related to the crime. Melinda Opperman, Vice President of Community Outreach, said “education and prevention is the best answer to this growing problem and through the programs organized by Springboard, we hope to bring awareness to the public, of the steps they can take to help minimize the risk of becoming a victim of the country’s fasting growing crime.”
Springboard is taking the lead in educating the Inland Empire community during National Protect Your Identity Week 2008 by providing the following free seminars and activities:
Springboard’s Community Shred and ID Theft Awareness Day1605 Spruce Street
Riverside, CA 92507
Date: Friday, October 24, 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Identity Theft Awareness and Prevention -- Free Seminars Learn how criminals obtain your information, what proactive steps to take to protect your identity, and the immediate action steps to take if you are a victim of identity theft. Seminar Times: 10:30 a.m. (Presentation by an agent from the U.S. Secret Service); 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Free refreshments. Please call 1-800-947-3752, ext 7820 to register to attend.
On-Site Document ShreddingBring your outdated financial records, including bank statements, old checks, credit card statements and offers, and other items that contain personal and financial information (individuals only, no businesses) for on-site shredding 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Stop by to enter your name in a free drawing for a cross-cut shredder. Shred, Shred, Shred and Protect Your Identity!
Springboard’s Identity Theft Awareness booklet is available for free download:
Identity Theft - learn to protect yourself from this growing problem, and find out what to do if you are a victim. To receive a printed copy by mail, please call 800-947-3752, extension 7820.
For more information, contact: Sheri Stuart, Senior Communications Specialist
About Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management
Springboard is a nonprofit credit education and financial counseling organization founded in 1974. The agency offers personal financial education and assistance with money, credit and debt management through confidential counseling. Springboard is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, signifying high standards for agency governance, fiscal integrity, counselor certification and service delivery policies. The agency provides pre-bankruptcy counseling and debtor education as mandated by the bankruptcy reform law. Springboard is a HUD approved housing counseling agency and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a national organization of nonprofit credit counseling agencies. The agency has several locations in California and offers face-to-face and nationwide phone counseling services. For more information on Springboard, call 1-800 WISE PLAN (1-800-947-3752) ext. 7750 or visit their web site at www.credit.org.
