JACKSONVILLE, FL – Fraud and identity theft continue to impact millions of Americans each year, often beginning with personal information that was improperly discarded or left exposed. That risk can lead to financial loss, identity theft, and long-term stress for individuals and families.
To help communities stay protected, VyStar Credit Union is hosting free “Shred to Protect Day” events across Florida and Georgia, giving residents a safe and secure way to dispose sensitive documents before they can be used for fraud.
“Fraud prevention works best when communities stay informed and proactive,” said a Chuck Meredith, VyStar Vice President of Enterprise Authentication and Fraud. “Shredding documents that contain personal or financial information is one of the simplest ways people can help from fraud and identity theft. Once sensitive information is exposed, recovery can be difficult and time-consuming.”
Shred to Protect Days give residents a free and convenient way to safely dispose of documents that may contain personal or financial information. Professional shredding services will be available on site, to help ensure sensitive materials are destroyed securely. While bank statements and tax records are often top of mind, fraud can also start with less obvious items. Junk mail, prescription labels, expired IDs, and pre-approved credit offers can contain enough personal information to put individuals at risk if discarded intact.
Upcoming Shred to Protect Days
The community is invited to participate in VyStar’s free Shred to Protect Day events on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the following VyStar branch locations:
- Peachtree Corners Branch – 5125 Peachtree Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
- Eagle Harbor Branch – 1755 Eagle Harbor Pkwy, Fleming Island, FL 32003
- The Villages Branch – 5857 Seven Mile Drive, Wildwood, FL 34785
- Mahan Drive Branch – 3208 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308
- Gainesville Branch – 3616 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608
In addition to Shred to Protect Day, VyStar continues to provide education and tools to help members with education, tools and resources to recognize scams and safeguard their accounts. VyStar will never ask for sensitive information such as one-time passcodes, card numbers or login credentials via unsolicited calls, texts or emails. Members are encouraged to pause and contact VyStar directly if something does not feel right.
For more information about protecting yourself from fraud and identity theft, visit VyStar’s Fraud Protection resources at vystarcu.org.
About VyStar Credit Union
VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with 79 full-service branches across Florida and Georgia, more than 1 million members and assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is a major employer in the region with over 2,300 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, as well as past and present military members and their families all over the world. Members benefit from convenient access to over 55,000 surcharge free ATMs worldwide. VyStar has earned national recognition from Time Magazine, Fortune, USA Today and Forbes for excellence in financial services, innovation and customer service, reflecting its commitment to delivering value and exceptional experiences to members. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.
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