FAIRFAX, Va. — Fairfax County is warning about a scam that could be trying to steal people's personal information.
Two weeks ago, Fairfax County was notified about a website called PaperShreddingevents.org. It advertises fake shredding events across the country, including in Fairfax County, at libraries and community centers.
Rebecca Makely, the county director of cable and consumer services, said residents have recently reported arriving at Fairfax County facilities for shredding events that were falsely advertised on the suspicious website. The website has events listed through the end of the year and Fairfax County wants to make sure people aren't handing out their personal information.
“Residents reported going out to these locations only to find out no event was being held," Makely said. "No shredding trucks, no signage. Unfortunately, they had come out with their documents but there was no event."
Shredding your documents can help protect your privacy and it's good for the environment, but there are a few red flags to be aware of when looking to dispose of your documents.
"These events are not associated with the county and we urge you to take steps to avoid misinformation and potential scams," the county post said.
Officials offer the following tips to avoid shredding scams:
- On-Site and Off-site Shredding: Verify if shredding will happen on-site and in front of you or at another location. Reputable companies will take the documents in locked boxes then provide a certificate of destruction or allow you to watch your documents being shredded. Stay vigilant and check the county’s website, social media channels or confirm with county facilities to make sure an event is legitimate before attending.
- Verify Community Events: Occasionally, a community group may hold an event at a county facility, so contact the group to confirm.
- Verify the Shredding Company: If it's a private company, make sure the company is reputable by checking with the Better Business Bureau.
If you’re still unsure whether an event is legitimate, you can always contact the Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Office at 703-222-8435 or at Consumer@Fairfaxcounty.com.
Why shredding is important:
Shredded paper is recyclable, but requires special handling.
Residents can recycle shredded paper at community shredding events or look for facilities that shred confidential documents, Recycling Partnership said. And, that’s where companies like TrueShred come in.
“Most of our clients view what we do as a security function, but what a lot of people don’t realize is, we also get excited about recycling,” Jason Knight of TrueShred said. He and his team process paper for clients all over the DMV.
Shredded paper is dumped out of the truck into a baler, compacted into fridge-sized blocks, wrapped in wire, and shipped to paper mills.
“It goes through a de-inking process where it takes all the ink out of the paper," Knight said. "White paper like this will get turned into new computer paper. If there’s a little bit of color mixed in usually it gets turned into paper towels, but either way it's getting used for a secondary purpose.”
And that recycling has a big impact. According to the company, TrueShred processes about 140,000 pounds of paper each week - that’s 28,000 reams.