Identity Theft Prevention Tools - The Paper Shredder
Posted on October 20th, 2008 in Articles |
One of the most supreme tools that can put the brakes on identity theft is a good paper shredder. Though this might not cross the mind of many as an essential tool, there is a reason why so many financial security experts strongly recommend them not only to individuals but to businesses as well.
For the most part, once an individual throws out his or her trash, there is no legal recourse to it and there can be no expectation of privacy. This means anyone is free to go through a person’s trash once it is in a public area waiting for disposal. As unsettling as rifling through trash may sound, it is one of the top methods by which identity thieves get their hands on prized information.
It is not uncommon for many to assume tearing up a credit card or bank statement will be a deterrent for thieves. However, these types of criminals are a determined bunch that has no problem piecing mail together to find out what they need to know. With names, addresses and account numbers, credit card and bank statements provide solid information for thieves. That is why shredding these documents into small pieces becomes so important. For added security, experts recommend using a paper shredder with a crosscutting motion. This more or less turns a document into confetti, something that stops identity thieves right in their tracks.
Personal paper shredders can run anywhere from thirty dollars on up to more than one hundred dollars. Doctor’s offices, insurance agencies and other businesses that deal with sensitive information on a regular basis would be wise to opt for a large scale professional shredding service. Original documents should always be kept safe; however, records that are outdated or no longer needed should also be shredded rather than tossed out. As ahs been found, thieves are never beyond using outdated information.
Examples of information and documents that should be shredded are [there will be others based on your personal circumstances]:
- Utility bills
- Legal or insurance documents
- Pay stubs
- ATM receipts
- Credit card and bank statements
- Any papers with a Social Security number
- Any papers displaying a maiden name
- Luggage tags
- Pre screened credit card offers
- Medical records
- Copies of transcripts
- Old résumés
- Unlaminated employee identification tags
- Address labels
- Cancelled checks or checks from defunct bank accounts
- Old credit reports
- Extra birth certificate copies
- Investment statements
- Old driver’s licenses
- Old airline tickets
- Old passports and visas
- Transcripts
- Tax forms
- Employment records
- Records displaying PIN numbers
- Documents that contain signatures
Items that offer any kind of personal information should never be left to chance and thrown out without shredding. Even if an identity thief can only gain a small amount of information at a time, it is not uncommon for fraudsters to stake out a target over several weeks. This allows crooks to build a good portfolio of information that they can later use to their advantage.
Related Articles
- Identity Theft Prevention When it comes to identity theft prevention/protection, anyone who has credit cards, a bank account and a credit score wants to do whatever they can to avoid becoming a victim
- Be Vigilant; Don’t Be A Victim This article is not directly related to ID theft, but the prevention of fraud is very similar to that of ID theft and should be beneficial to the majority of
4 Responses
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Along with shredding I also think that investing in identity theft protection is vital. My family and I chose SOLUS because of their restoration services. Along with the credit monitoring, expense reimbursement coverage and legal/emotional care services, their comprehensive restoration doesnt just assist you in restoring your good name, but they actually do everything on your behalf. I am a very busy professional with 4 kids, and the last thing I need to worry is protecting my identity and in the event I do become a victim, what to do. I have learned a tons from SOLUS website as well. Check it out for yourself…they also have tons of shredding advice! http://www.solusid.com
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