Credit Card Offers, Bank Statements, Canceled Checks, and More
 |
| Help Prevent Identity Theft: Shred These Documents |
Article Table of Contents
- Credit Card Offers, Bank Statements, Canceled Checks, and More
- Documents Containing Financial Information
- Documents Containing Personal Information
- Documents Containing Account Information
- Junk Mail
- Child and School-Related Mail
Every other day, the U.S. Postal Services delivers more than 187 million pieces of mail, and much of those correspondences contain extremely sensitive personal information. It may look like junk mail, but it is indeed a very important tool for identity thieves.
Even a partial account number, coupled with the name of your bank, or other information, data that can be matched with any other information that's been gleaned to open accounts in your name. Hence its critical to shred mail or other documents containing potentially sensitive information, data.
Lets us take a deep dive into the mail and other types of documents you should regularly shred to help protect yourself.
Positively lock up all the important documents that you don't shred, including birth and death certificates, adoption papers, marriage and divorce papers, citizenship papers, Social Security cards, tax-related documents, deeds and titles, and financial statements.
Documents Containing Financial Information
An identity thief will potentially use anything that comes from any financial institution. You should keep copies of bank and credit card statements for record-keeping purposes, you only need to do so for maybe maximum one year. You should shred anything older than that, as well as canceled checks, voided checks, and any online purchase orders that contain your bank account or billing information.
Documents Containing Personal Information
Your personal information is in reality what these identity thieves are after. Your date of birth and Social Security number are especially very vulnerable. Hence shredding anything that contains that information is a very good idea. Other information to be wary of is your full name, address, home or work telephone numbers, and driver’s license number.
This also includes any mail you receive from the Internal Revenue Service, documents from the Department of Motor Vehicles, any employment-related correspondence. Other sensitive information that you should be shred includes any travel-related materials other than your passport.
Documents Containing Account Information
These crafty Identity thieves also regularly try to capture account numbers, usernames, and passwords. Advisable to shred any documents printed with this information, such as credit card statements, personal and real property tax statements, bills. You should also shred mail that contains information about your utility accounts, cell phone, and internet bills.
Junk Mail
Junk mail may potentially become dangerous. Most people sadly do not realize this, but junk mail usually has a computer barcode on the front that can sometimes contain personal identifying information.
This includes so-called pre-authorized credit card offers, mail from insurance companies and lenders, and even mail from associations and other membership organizations that may have access to your important personal information.
Normally most leading companies market to specific demographics, based on age , occupation, or purchasing habits. So please shred all your junk mail, including the return envelopes provided with it.
Child and School-Related Mail
These nasty Identity thieves don't discriminate. They will steal even a child's Social Security number just as soon as they would an adult's. Hence any mail you receive concerning your children, their medical records, and school information should go directly into the shredded pile.
In the circumstance of your receiving copies of your children's birth certificates, any mail with your authorization for school field trips, school applications, and report cards, do not forget to shred them.
