Fight Nation’s Fastest-Growing Crime (NAPSA)—Identity theft is big business. In fact, companies lose, on average, nearly $50 billion annually through the theft of proprietary information. With these crimes showing no signs of waning, the Federal Trade Commission enacted a provision under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) entitled “Proper Disposal of Consumer Report Information and Records.” The provision requires businesses —even those employing just one person—to properly dispose of a consumer report or any record derived from one. This includes data pulled from credit reports and credit scores. The FTC, according to the provision, generally recommends destroying or shredding records containing consumer information. Depending upon the volume of personal records, this method of destruction can be accomplished easily with the purchase of a shredder. The leading manufacturer of shredders for home andoffice use offers the largest selection of innovative shredding solutions. “With the recent heightened awareness of identity theft, more and more companies are buying shredders to protect their business,” said John Fellowes. His company “makes shredders that can safely shred staples, paper clips, credit cards and even compact discs—valuable features in today’s information age.” For example, the Fellowes 320C, a commercial crosscut shredder, is designed for six to 10 users in a department. It accepts 7,000 sheets a day and comes with durable, all-steel Powershred cutters. The quiet motor allows for use in common office areas and the larger waste bin requires less emptying. The Fellowes PS-65C, a cross- cut personal shredder, is made for small departments or individual workspaces. Designed to improve safe handling, this shredder is equipped with a Safety Lockout Feature that locks the machine when not in use. The waste bin of the shredder features an opening indicating when it’s full and a handle for easy emptying. For more information, visit www.fellowes.com.
