CELL PHONES RECYCLED THROUGH
 COUNTY PROGRAM ARE SAFE FROM ID THEFT

County Executive Andy Spano wants Westchester residents to know that those cell phones that are donated through the county’s recycling program are scrubbed of personal data and cannot be used to commit identity theft.

“Recent media reports have highlighted that cell phones retain personal data that can be used to commit identity theft,” Spano said. “However, you can safely donate your old cell phone through Westchester’s recycling program, which works with Verizon Wireless to provide cell phones to victims of domestic violence. Any personal information stored in the phones is professionally erased.”

Gary Brown, director of Consumer Protection., added, “By dropping your old cell phone in a Verizon Wireless Hope Line collection box, you can help a good cause without risk of identity theft. ReCellular, the company that refurbishes and recycles the phones, erases any personal information that is stored.”

Consumers who visit ReCellular’s web site at www.wirelessrecycling.com/home/data_eraser/default.asp can learn how to delete personal data themselves.
For more information on the county’s cell phone recycling program visit www.westchestergov.com/cellphone.