State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) will be hosting her 3rd Annual Free Community Shred Day with AAA Confidential Security Corporation in the North Parking Lot of the Landmark Recreation Center, located at 3225 Dries Ln., on Saturday, August 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“In properly disposing of their documents, consumers will help protect themselves from identity theft while helping preserve the environment by recycling,” Gordon said. “I urge anyone and everyone who is interested in keeping their personal information safe from unsavory characters to stop by and shred what they don’t want laying around their house.”

Identity thieves try to steal information from consumers in a variety of ways, one of which is to rummage through the trash. With this sensitive information, criminals can open fraudulent credit card and utility accounts, create counterfeit checks, and secure loans in the names of their unsuspecting victims.

A study released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in February of 2010 reported that during the 2009 calendar year, Illinois experienced 36,133 consumer fraud complaints. 12,113 of the total number of complaints were cases of identity theft. The FTC study also reported that in 2009, United States financial losses incurred due to consumer fraud totaled over $1.7 billion.

Residents are welcome to stop by and drop off old personal documents and unused credit cards to be securely destroyed by AAA Confidential Security Corporation, a NAID certified shredding company based in Peoria. For more information on the 3rd Annual Free Community Shred Day, please contact Rep. Gordon’s constituent service office at (309) 681-1992 or by email at repjehangordon@gmail.com.

What: 3rd Annual Free Community Shred Day with State Rep. Jehan Gordon and AAA Confidential Security Corporation
When: Saturday, August 13 from 9 AM to 12 PM
Where:Landmark Recreation Center, 3225 Dries Lane, North Parking Lot. Peoria