When someone throws away documents with personal data on it, whether bills, junk mail or private papers, they could be tossing away their identity as well.
“Our paper documents contain a surprising amount of personal information. When they’re thrown away intact, they can become an easy target for fraud and identity theft,” said Colleen Cadman, associate state director of community outreach for AARP Pennsylvania.
This is why AARP Pennsylvania, in partnership with McCandless, is encouraging locals to sign up for a free community shredding event from 9 to 11 a.m. April 11 in the McCandless Town Hall parking lot, 9955 Grubbs Road.
Space is limited, and registration is required. Find a registration link at townofmccandless.org or tinyurl.com/25erhjdr.
AARP recognizes April as Fraud Prevention Month.
Bank statements, tax records, insurance forms, medical paperwork, credit card offers, even shipping labels and junk mail often include names, addresses, account numbers or partial Social Security numbers.
“Criminals don’t need a computer hack if they can just retrieve that information from the trash,” Cadman said.
AARP Pennsylvania believes the issue matters to everyone, but it’s especially important for older adults. Many people keep records longer as they manage retirement accounts, health care paperwork and financial documents accumulated over a lifetime.
“Shredding is one of the simplest, most effective ways to protect yourself. It permanently destroys sensitive information so it can’t be reconstructed, resold or misused. Once a document is shredded, it’s no longer a liability,” Cadman said.
Scammers also disproportionately target older Americans, knowing they may have savings, good credit or a trusting nature. Something as routine as an old bank statement or insurance form can be enough to open the door to fraud, Cadman said.
“Financial scams against seniors are increasing, exploiting trust, isolation and accumulated savings, and while we haven’t noticed an increase in theft of physical mail or other sensitive paperwork from victims, it doesn’t mean it is not occurring. What we have seen an increase in is romance scams against local senior citizen victims,” said McCandless police Chief Ryan Hawk.
Other scams include claims a loved one has been arrested and needs to be bailed out of jail. With tax season upon us, IRS scams are ramping up as well, he said.
“While anyone could be targeted and fall victim to one of these scams, seniors seem to be especially vulnerable. Financial scams against seniors are wide-ranging, and these are simply a few examples. If it sounds suspicious, you should be suspicious and take the extra time to investigate further,” he said.
A good rule is that when someone is unexpectedly contacted via phone, text or email and asked for any type of payment, especially via gift cards or money orders, or access to bank accounts or personally identifiable information, take caution. For someone urging “emergency” immediate payment, Hawk suggests getting in touch with a family member or trusted source such as the local police department and discuss the matter before making any financial move.
“Oftentimes, you will discover it is a fraud or scam, and that extra time you take to reconsider making payment will likely save you from making a financially disastrous decision,” Hawk said.
Hawk shared that a related Justice and Wellness Fest, presented by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 13 at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Harmar. To register, call 412-430-3416.
Only paper items such as old financial documents, shipping labels, photos and duplicates will be accepted at the shredding event. Paperclips and staples do not need to be removed beforehand.
There is a limit of three bags or boxes per participant, and AARP membership is not required. Everyone is requested to take their bags and boxes home after the event.
AARP Pennsylvania hosts free community shredding events as part of broader fraud prevention efforts.
“They give people a safe, convenient way to dispose of sensitive documents properly, while also reminding the community that fraud prevention starts at home, with how we handle our paperwork,” Cadman said.
The Federal Trade Commission estimated in a 2025 report to Congress that, when accounting for underreporting, as much as $195.9 billion was stolen from Americans via financial fraud in 2024 alone. Of that, as much as $81.5 billion was stolen from older adults, according to a March 2 article at aarp.org.
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. For details, email pa@aarp.org.