Protect Your Identity and Sioux Falls at Annual Data Shred Event

About two years ago, someone stole my debit card number and did a little shopping. Thankfully, I look at my checking account almost every day and discovered the charges were made by someone shopping in Sioux City, a place I haven't been in nearly a decade. My account was frozen and a new debit card issued. All was well.

My younger sister had her identity stolen over a decade ago. It took her at least 5 years to get everything sorted out. She is still uber-sensitive anytime something even vaguely suspicious happens with a credit card, piece of misdelivered mail, or her checking account.

How this information was stolen remains a mystery to this day, but suffice it to say it happens every minute of every hour, of every day, around the globe!

You can, however, lessen your chances of having your identity stolen by making sure you properly dispose of any sensitive materials you have. That is the goal of the Crime Stoppers and Better Business Bureau Data Shred Event coming up on Saturday, April 27, from 9 AM to 1 PM at three locations in Sioux Falls.

• Westside Location - Minnwest Bank at 5001 S. Louise Avenue
• Eastside Location - Washington High School at 6th & Sycamore
• Downtown Location - Washington Pavilion parking lot/ramp at 13th Street & Main Avenue

You can bring bags or boxes of sensitive documents to be shredded. The suggested donation per box or bag is $5. These funds benefit the Sioux Empire CrimeStoppers which gives cash rewards to help law enforcement fight crime.

If you can't make it to this event, Dakota Data Shred will also be shredding documents for the same donation from 8 AM to 3 PM, Monday, April 22 through Friday, April 26 at their corporate office located at 5000 West 8th Street.

Sources: Better Business Bureau Sioux Falls and CrimeStoppers of the Sioux Empire