{"id":155673,"date":"2026-02-08T03:33:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T03:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/155673\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T03:33:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T03:33:36","slug":"texas-shred-em-in-austin-shred-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/155673\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Shred \u2019Em in Austin: Shred &#038; Win"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Identity theft and fraud continue to be rampant threats for people of all ages, and AARP is on the front lines helping Texans protect themselves. In 2024, identity fraud cost Americans an estimated $47 billion and affected millions of people nationwide, according to recent reports tied to AARP research efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Even with these risks, many people aren\u2019t taking simple precautions. For example, an AARP study found that one in five adults reports never shredding personal documents that could be used to steal their identity.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where Texas Shred \u2019Em comes in \u2014 free, community-focused events that are designed to help you reduce your risk of identity theft by securely disposing of sensitive papers, clearing out clutter, and learning practical tips for keeping your personal information safe.<\/p>\n<p>AARP is hosting a full lineup of free workshops and activities in Austin this spring that empower you with knowledge and tools to fight fraud and safeguard your data.<\/p>\n<p>            Sweepstakes, Shredding Event &amp; Workshops<\/p>\n<p>April 1, 2026 \u2013 Enter to Win a Free Personal Paper Shredder ($250 Value)<\/p>\n<p>Add some excitement \u2014 enter for your chance to win a high-security paper shredder that can cut up to 120 sheets in micro-cut turns to help you stay secure all year.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/pages\/responsepage.aspx?id=i-OVo3VLRE6TSZo33kYKM5vvFPR--k9IlMhCcPWS-sRUNjNPSEZWODlSNjNNVExVUDZRVFJQVERJWi4u&amp;route=shorturl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ENTER HERE<\/a> (Sweepstakes Opens at 8 a.m. Ct, April 1, 2026 through 5 p.m. April 20, 2026.)<\/p>\n<p><a data-overlay-msg=\"AARP.Everywhere.LeavingModal.drawOverlay(this,&#039;&#039;,\/content\/dam\/content-fragments\/aarp-org\/en\/aarp-states\/texas\/texas-shred-in-austin-shred-win.html,&#039;&#039;,&#039;You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.&#039;);return false;\" title=\"link to rules\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/content\/dam\/aarp\/politics\/advocacy\/states\/paper-shredder-fraud-prevention-sweepstakes-official-rules.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Official Rules Here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>April 7, 2026 \u2014 Vigilance Against Cybercrimes Workshop<\/p>\n<p>Learn how cybercriminals target individuals and how to protect yourself online.<\/p>\n<p>Noon to 1 p.m.\u00a0 CT &#8211; Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center (Meeting Room), 808 Nile Street, Austin,\u00a0TX\u00a078702<\/p>\n<p>Register here: <a href=\"https:\/\/events.aarp.org\/TX-407-Vigilance\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/events.aarp.org\/TX-407-Vigilance<\/a><\/p>\n<p>April 21, 2026 \u2014 Government Imposter Scams Workshop<\/p>\n<p>Understand common government impersonation scams and what to watch for..<\/p>\n<p>Noon to 1 p.m.\u00a0 CT &#8211; Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center (Meeting Room), 808 Nile Street, Austin,\u00a0TX\u00a078702<\/p>\n<p>Register here: <a href=\"https:\/\/events.aarp.org\/event\/TX-421-Scams\/summary\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/events.aarp.org\/event\/TX-421-Scams\/summary<\/a><\/p>\n<p>April 25, 2026 \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/events.aarp.org\/event\/TX-425-AShred\/summary\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texas Shred \u2019Em Free Shred Day<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bring sensitive documents \u2014 like old bank statements, tax forms, and bills \u2014 for secure shredding at no cost.<\/p>\n<p>9 a.m. \u2013 11 a.m. (or when trucks are filled) &#8211; Better Business Bureau, 1805 Rutherford Ln., Austin, TX 78754<\/p>\n<p>Register here: <a href=\"https:\/\/events.aarp.org\/event\/TX-425-AShred\/summary\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texas Shred \u2019Em Free Shred Day<\/a><\/p>\n<p>            Why Shredding Matters<\/p>\n<p>AARP\u2019s research shows that many Americans still don\u2019t regularly shred personal documents containing Social Security numbers, financial account details, or other identifiable information, even though they agree it\u2019s important.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s why regular shredding matters:<\/p>\n<p>Stop Dumpster Divers: Personal papers tossed in the trash can be retrieved and exploited for fraud.Reduce Your Exposure: Shredding decreases the amount of sensitive information that could be stolen.Boost Peace of Mind: Clearing out old records through shredding helps you stay organized and secure.<\/p>\n<p>Shredding isn\u2019t just about tidiness; it\u2019s a proactive step against identity theft that aligns with AARP\u2019s broader fraud prevention mission. The AARP Fraud Watch Network offers resources and support to help you stay savvy about scams year-round.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Identity theft and fraud continue to be rampant threats for people of all ages, and AARP is on&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":155674,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[64173,132,134,133,64174,64175,27],"class_list":{"0":"post-155673","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-austin","8":"tag-aarp-texas","9":"tag-austin","10":"tag-austin-headlines","11":"tag-austin-news","12":"tag-shred-events","13":"tag-sweepstakes","14":"tag-texas"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}