Papers with bank customer's info found in dumpster

(3/09/06 - KTRK/THE WOODLANDS, TX) (KTRK) -- A construction manager found more than just debris in a dumpster. He discovered unshredded bank documents revealing bank customers' personal information.

Ron Smith discovered a stack of Wachovia Bank papers inside a construction dumpster on Six Pines and Woodlands Parkway, where he monitors in The Woodlands.

Customers' names, social security numbers, and account information were in plain view. It's the second time Smith has found such documents in the dumpster.

Wachovia says it is investigating. The spokesman says the documents are actually from customers who bank at another branch, not from the Wachovia bank that is next to the dumpster where the documents were found.

"Anybody can get to these dumpsters and get whatever is in them out," said Smith.

"It shocks me that with identity theft going around, that my accounts are just thrown in a dumpster somewhere," said bank customer Tom Meyer.

Wachovia Bank has retrieved the dumped documents. Bank officials say they will contact every customer whose information was at risk.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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