Published: May 10, 2008 05:34 pm            

Valley residents combat ID theft

First Financial, Data Management team to offer document shredding

TERRE HAUTE — Wabash Valley residents were brought a little more peace of mind after they watched their information-sensitive documents destroyed in the First Financial Bank parking lot Saturday.

With identity theft becoming a growing concern among citizens, First Financial and Data Management Shredding teamed up to provide a way for residents to dispose of documents that may contain sensitive information such as account numbers, social security numbers and birthdays.

Alex Kosarko, 66, waited in line with his 13-year-old grandson Evan Fischer and four garbage bags of documents. Though each bag wasn’t full, Kosarko estimated they weighed between 16 and 20 pounds each.

Not wanting the information from past tax returns, medical bills or checking account statements to fall into the wrong hands, Kosarko stored the documents in metal filing cabinets, plastic containers and drawers between three rooms of his home for as long as 15 years.

“This is a good chance to clean out,” he said. “… I trust it completely. It’s a great feeling to know I won’t have to worry about it now.”

After getting rid of the documents, he said he plans to buy a small shredder and shred as he doesn’t need the paperwork anymore so that he doesn’t get that backed up again.

This is the second time for the event with about 50 to 60 people showing up last year, said Andrew Southard, general manager of Data Management.

“Anything with account information on it, social security information on it, you just don’t want out there,” said Terry Tevlin of First Financial’s marketing department, “that’s where our friends at Data Management Shredding have come in so helpful … They destroy the document right in front of you so that there is no possibility of shenanigans, so it’s really a cool thing.”

On average people brought between one and two boxes or bags of documents, he said. People didn’t have to sort the documents or even remove paper clips or staples. Southard said they ask that there is no plastic mixed in with the documents.

Nearly 50 people had gone through the shredding line within the first 30 minutes of the event starting Saturday. Items brought ranged from a grocery bag of documents to full plastic totes, such as the ones brought by Charlie Patel of Marshall, Ill.

Patel, owner of the Motel 8 in Marshall, had brought 12 boxes of mostly business documents to be destroyed.

“It’s a nice service for the community,” he said, noting it was worth the drive.

While Terre Haute resident Margaret Perry, 65, didn’t have as many documents as Patel or Kosarko, she also thought it was a wonderful service. Perry was in line with two boxes full of documents such as bank statements and health records dating back 15 years.

She said after getting rid of the documents, she plans to use her own shredder to stay caught up.

“It’s a big time saver,” Perry said about the service, “and I know that it’s not going to be out there in a landfill somewhere so people could go through it.”

Though having documents shredded is one way to combat identity theft, Steve Herndon, First Financial’s compliance and security manager, warned there are things people should be aware of such as fake phone calls or phony e-mails.

“It helps, it takes care of that problem,” he said, “but it’s something that you’ve got to be diligent all the time.”

Tevlin agreed and added it’s also important for people to know that First Financial Bank as well as many other financial institutions will never call or e-mail the customer and ask for additional information because they already have it.

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.

        

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