Fellowes: Identity Theft Steals the Attention of the White House; Shredding Personal Information Is Key To Protecting Against ID Theft Crimes

Business Wire, July 16, 2004

ITASCA, Ill. -- Nearly 10 million people last year were victims of identity theft according to the Federal Trade Commission. With these crimes showing no signs of weakening, President George W. Bush signed a bill yesterday that holds identity theft criminals accountable. The Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act adds two years to sentences for criminals convicted of using stolen credit cards and other personal data to commit crimes.

As identity theft tops the FTC's list of complaints, the National Crime Prevention Council urges consumers to shred personal documents such as paid bills, "pre-approved" credit cards, ATM receipts, and bank and credit card statements, before throwing them in the trash.

"Identity theft is our nation's fastest growing crime and as a result, the demand for shredders has increased dramatically," said John Fellowes, Shredder Marketing Manager for Fellowes, Inc. "Five years ago, shredders were used primarily by businesses but today paper shredders are becoming as commonplace as personal computers in the home."

Fellowes, the global leader in paper shredders for home and office use, recommends a cross cut shredder for the highest level of document security.

For tips on how to protect against identity theft, consumers can visit www.fellowes.com.

About Fellowes, Inc.

Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, Fellowes, Inc. offers an impressive range of products to equip the workspace, including paper shredders, binders and laminators, desktop accessories and record storage solutions. Fellowes, Inc. owns and operates subsidiaries in Canada, United Kingdom, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Australia. The company employs more than 1,200 people throughout the world and expects global sales in excess of $700 million this year. For more information, visit www.fellowes.com.