October 21, 2015
For Immediate Release
Identity Theft Can Affect Small Communities
Benton, KY – According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is more likely to impact a larger percentage of older Americans in our country than younger generations. Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to this kind of theft because they usually have more assets and readily available cash than others.
“Identity theft is not going away anytime soon,” says Ginger Russell, Adult Services Librarian for the Marshall County Public Library. “Mr. Claborn explained at our program today how we are just as likely in a small town to feel the effects resulted from identity theft as larger cities do with bigger populations. It’s important to know how to protect yourself.”
On Wednesday, October 21, the library hosted a program to educate the public on the dangers and reality of identity theft, as well as ways they can guard their personal information. Russ Claborn of CFSB shared information on how to decrease your risk of becoming an identity theft victim.
“The first step to reducing your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft is to arm yourself with knowledge,” says Russell. “The library has some great printed resources, or you can go online to trusted sites, like the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information page at www.consumer.ftc.gov.”
The identity theft session was held as part of the library’s Lunch and Learn series, which is a free educational program open to the public. This program concluded the Lunch & Learn series for 2015, but be sure to check back in the future for next year’s schedule. Until then, there are several night time programs covering topics such as how to plan a Disney vacation and also a survival workshop with special guest, Craig Caudill from Nature Reliance School in Central Kentucky.
For more information on any of the library’s programs and events, be sure to visit www.marshallcolibrary.org or call 270-527-9969.