Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte today announced that the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau will join AARP New Hampshire in hosting an identity theft protection event. The “Fight Fraud-Shred Instead” event will take place Saturday, October 21, 2006, 9:00-11:00 a.m., on Main Street in Concord, on the State House plaza. A1 Datashred, LLC of Billerica will provide The Paper Predator, a high-speed shredding truck.

Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the United States. Identity thieves steal all sorts of personal information: Social Security numbers, bank or credit card account numbers, passports, driver’s licenses, and other legal documents. “Thieves use stolen information to get access to existing accounts and to open new accounts,” said Attorney General Ayotte. “Victims of ID theft may find credit cards, utility bills, car loans - even mortgages - in their name. It can take years to recover. That’s why taking this easy step of shredding is so important.”

Consumers are advised to shred anything that has personal identifying information on it - charge receipts, copies of credit applications, credit card offers, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards, and old tax or investment records.

“While some identity thieves have gone high-tech, many stick with tried-and-true methods: pilfering your mailbox or digging through your trash or recycling,” said AARP New Hampshire State Director Dick Chevrefils. “Every time you throw away something with an account number or a Social Security number on it, you risk becoming a victim. This shredding event is a great opportunity to protect yourself and your family from identity theft.”

Consumers who attend the event can bring up to two boxes of paper material to shred. (Paper material ONLY. Staples and paper clips are acceptable; please no binder clips.) Attendees can also get information on how to protect against other kinds of frauds and scams. Attorney General Ayotte and staff from the Attorney General’s office and AARP will also be on hand to field questions.

If you have been victimized by identify theft and need additional information, please call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454. For additional information on identity theft, please visit www.doj.nh.gov/consumer or www.aarp.org/money/wise_consumer/scams.