Your Better Business Bureau is preparing to host a free shredding day this Saturday. We call the event Secure Your ID Day.

We fire up the industrial paper shredders so you can clean out file drawers, closets and cabinets of sensitive documents. The shredding is free, the protection is priceless.

You're welcome to bring up to three boxes of old documents, files and records to Idadiv Credit Union, 1822 N. Midland Blvd., just north of Caldwell Boulevard. Cintas will start up its big shredding truck at 10 a.m. and keep it running until noon. I hope to see you there.

Why make such a big deal about protecting your identity? Statistics show one in six of us will someday become an identity theft victim. Just in the last year, nearly 10 million people had their identity stolen.

You cannot be too careful with your name, address, birth date, social security, credit card and bank account numbers.

Here's a horror story to drive home the point:

Thieves will take advantage of someone not being careful with credit card numbers - whether that person is the card owner or a business that accepted the card for payment. While you won't find full credit card numbers on statements, scam artists always are looking for opportunities to grab credit card numbers.

Thieves then start an elaborate process to get the last three numbers they need to have full use of the credit card. (The three numbers are on the right side of the signature area on the back of the card - the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card.)

The thief calls the victim, claiming to be a fraud investigator with the credit card company. They will ask if a large purchase was made, just under $500. The victim says they didn't make the purchase, giving the supposed fraud investigator the opportunity to "help" the victim. They'll explain that is the trigger amount for most credit card companies to become suspicious of purchases.

The scam artist tells the victim a refund is on the way as soon as the security code on the back of the card can be verified. The scam artist - posing as an investigator - makes several more official sounding statements and finishes the call by giving a "control number."

The victim actually says very little, and the scam artist never asks for or provides the card number.

Victims of the crime learn that within minutes of the call, their card is charged hundreds of dollars for purchases they never authorized.

Be zealous about shredding everything from junk mail to old records. (Let us help you on Saturday!) If your phone rings and the person on the other end claims to be a fraud investigator, be suspicious and independently verify the claim by calling the credit card company or bank.

Dale Dixon is president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, a not-for-profit organization serving Southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon. Reach him at 342-4649 or ddixon@boise.bbb.org.