In recognition of National Protect Your Identity Week (PYIW), October 17 – 23, the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan will be promoting tips on avoiding and dealing with identity theft through its new myBBB Facebook page. The Facebook site will include interactive games, scam alerts, educational tips and information on the BBB’s SECURE YOUR ID DAY community shred event, which kicks-off PYIW on Saturday, October 17.
Facebook is a free-access social networking site. Everyone who is registered as a “fan” of the BBB site at www.facebook.com/myBBB by the conclusion of PYIW will be entered into a drawing to win a BLACK & DECKER Identity Theft Buster shredder.* 
This BLACK & DECKER shredder has a convenient countertop design with a lightweight, easy empty bin making it ideal for residential or small business use. The Identity Theft Buster can shred paper, cds, credit cards, and staples. The drawing will take place on Friday, October 23 at 4 pm.
Last year alone, 8.1 million Americans became the victim of ID theft, resulting in the loss of $45 billion, according to a 2008 report from Javelin Strategy and Research. The report notes that the majority (56%) of ID theft occurs when the thief has direct contact with the victim’s personal information, through a stolen wallet, rifling through a mailbox or trashcan, or lifting documents from inside a home or business.
“Properly destroying documents that contain sensitive personal and financial information is an important first step in fighting identity theft, but it doesn’t end there,” said Tim Burns, Public Affairs Director for the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan. “Knowing what to do to avoid being targeted and how to respond if you are victimized is something everyone needs to be aware of as ID Theft crimes continue to escalate. Whether becoming a victim of a high-tech method of identity theft, such as vishing, phishing, and smishing, or low-tech means such as having your wallet stolen or your trash can picked over, your personal savvy is the best defense when it comes to protecting yourself.”