Member Article

Charity fundraising scheme shreds fraudsters chances

More people in Yorkshire and the Humber than ever before have fallen victim to identity fraud.

Figures released this month show 11,130 cases were reported across the region in 2016 - an 8 per cent increase on the all-time high recorded the previous year says Cifas, the UK’s leading not-for-profit fraud data sharing organisation.

“Identity fraud is now the UK’s No1 fraud threat according to Cifas, with almost 173,000 cases in 2016, more than in any other previous year. It’s a reminder everyone needs to be extra-vigilant, not only businesses,” said a leading Sheffield security shredding and data storage specialist.

Attercliffe-based Russell Richardson works to keep thousands of local and national businesses secure, but also helps the public stay safe through an ID theft protection shredding service. There is no fee - only a donation to charity is requested.

The family firm established in 1978 has been running the scheme for 12 years and raised over £15,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Last year alone the charity service netted £3,500.

“We want to help people stay safe,” said company marketing manager Emma Moorhouse. “Many who use the service are moving house or clearing the home of a deceased relative. But everyone who does not need a Certificate of Destruction is welcomed. All they need to do is drop off bags or boxes of paperwork for shredding at our depot on Clay Street, Attercliffe.

“We protect our possessions but we don’t take the same care wth our identities. Shredding important documents like bank statements and utility bills instead of leaving them lying around, or throwing them in the bin, is vital.

“A number of cases where scammers had raided homeowners’ dustbins for personal information have hit the headlines recently. And we back Cifas advice on strengthening passwords, downloading software updates when prompted on your devices and avoiding using public wi-fi for banking and online shopping.”

Every week Russell Richardson shreds around 200 tonnes of confidential paperwork, keeping thousands of local SMEs, law firm Irwin Mitchell’s offices nationwide, the head office of the Formula One Grand Prix team, numerous police forces, motor giants and even famous British fashion designers in step with data protection laws and protected against identity fraudsters.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Moorhouse .