AARP shreds 6,100 lbs of paper containing sensitive information

AARP Wyoming reports that their contactless shred events Friday in Cheyenne, Rock Springs, and Sheridan shredded roughly three tons of paper containing sensitive information, which could be used by scammers to steal identities.

In Cheyenne, over 4,500 pounds of paper was shredded in a four-hour period on Friday, in an event that saw nearly 150 cars drop off boxes of old documents to be shredded on-site. 

Sheridan’s contactless shred event netted over 1,600 pounds of shredded paper from 50 cars.

“Unfortunately, attempted scams are so common it’s rare that we have days when someone isn’t trying to illegally separate us from our hard-earned money,” AARP Wyoming Associate State Director for Outreach and Local Advocacy Jenn Baier said. “For that reason, AARP Wyoming has prioritized fraud prevention in 2022. Contactless shred events like these allow citizens to safely and securely shred paper on-site that might contain sensitive information.”

According to AARP, 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 PINs.

Banking:  Canceled or unused checks. Shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts, once you receive your monthly statements.

Credit Cards: Pre-approved 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.

The contactless shred events are just one component of AARP’s commitment to fighting fraud. In 2013, AARP launched The Fraud Watch Network (FWN) as a free resource for people of all ages. 

This service is open and free to residents of any age. Consumers may sign up for “Watchdog Alert” emails that deliver information about scams, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. The Fraud Watch Network website provides information about fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, and an interactive scam-tracking map.