You can stopidentity theft

Christmas 2009 may be in the past, but the New Year brings with it a plethora of credit card bills and wallets packed full of shopping receipts. Too many of us just throw this type of information away without properly destroying it and in doing so create a fraudster’s paradise. This trend in behaviour has led to a 62% increase in identity fraud cases throughout the UK.

To help raise awareness of this problem, First Trust Bank has partnered with leading information destruction specialists, Shed-it Ireland, to launch a series of community ‘shredding’ events across Northern Ireland.

The events, which will take place throughout the year, will see mobile Shred-it units visit First Trust Bank branches in Derry, Newry, Dungannon and Glengormley, providing customers, businesses and local residents with the opportunity to have their confidential information destroyed there and then.

Commenting on the initiative Eamonn McCoy, Information Security Manager, First Trust Bank said: “Fraud cases continue to increase, in fact from January to September this year there were more than 175,000 recorded cases throughout the UK. This increase is partly due to people simply not destroying documentation such as bills, receipts, statements and unwanted mail in the right way.”

Mr. McCoy continued, “The community ‘shredding’ events offer the public a safe, secure and hassle free way in which to destroy their confidential information. Bank staff and representatives from Shred-it will attend the events to help raise awareness of fraud and to provide useful information that can help to better protect them for future fraudulent attacks.”

Speaking ahead of the events, Paul Kearns, General Manager, Shred-It Ireland stated, “We are delighted to have partnered with First Trust Bank. As Europe’s largest mobile shredding operator, we understand the importance of securely destroying confidential information and are all too aware of the damage that can be caused when the information is used illegally. Therefore, I would encourage people to attend these events.”

The first ‘shredding’ event will take place at First Trust Bank’s Crescent Link branch on Wednesday 20th January from 10:30am-2:30pm.